See ya, 2013!

2013, you've been so good to me!
I'm gonna miss you, but I'm pretty sure 2014 has lots to offer!

Whenever I'll feel nostalgic (I know I will, somehow I always do!) I'll take a look at this little video, with the largest smile on my face!

Happy New Year to all of you guys!
Wishing you all the best for 2014!

Talk to you soon!

Homemade spiced hot chocolate

Winter (especially the Holiday Season) calls for hot chocolate with extra marshmallows!

Today, Livia tasted her first homemade hot chocolate and she loved it! I made myself a chai-inspired spice mix the other night and it turned out to be the perfection addition to hot chocolate. I just made sure not to put any chili flakes in Livia's hot chocolate because it would have been too spicy for her.

Here's my little recipe, totally improvised, on the spot, because I was craving a spiced hot chocolate!

Spiced Hot Chocolate

for about 2 portions:

-1 cup of milk
-1 cup of almond milk (mine was vanilla flavored)
-1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
-2 tablespoons of cacao powder
-1 tablespoon of sugar

Chai-inspired spice mix:
-1 teaspoon of cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon of cardamom
-1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
-1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
-2 cloves
-a few chili flakes (to taste/ optional if you don't want your hot chocolate to be too spicy)

1. In a saucepan, on the stove, mix the milk, almond milk, vanilla extract & sugar together.
2. Bring to a boil, then add the cacao powder & spice mix.
3. Make sure everything is well mixed to avoid any clumps.
4. Lower the temperature & simmer for a few minutes.
5. Pour in a mug, on top of marshmallows (mine were store bought but homemade marshmallows are even better!)
6. ENJOY!

How do you like your hot chocolate?

Our Christmas: 2013 edition

Hope you all had a great Christmas with your loved ones!
This year edition was a 3-days long celebration and I know some kiddos who got spoiled quite a lot! ;) On the 24th, we had supper at my dad's house, on the 25th, in the morning, we opened our gifts at home, just the 4 of us, then headed to my mother in law for supper. Then on the 26th, my father in law & my mother came by to visit the kids & give them more gifts! A real gift extravaganza!

Here are some pics I've taken on Christmas morning, when we celebrated our 1st Christmas as a family of four, wearing our pj's! We had placed the gifts under the tree during the night (the tree was in Livia's room this year) hoping Livia would come running to our room telling us there were gifts under her tree.... but she didn't even notice! Haha! Maybe next year!

I love gift wrapping & pretty packages!

Ninja pose!

That face: Priceless!

"What's going on?"

Concentration

Talk to you soon!

This the season to be jolly...

About a week or so left before Christmas...it has never been a big deal for me but things are starting to change now that I have kids. Guess I want them to have great memories they can cherish as they grow up! Here's what we've been up to today in order to get in the Holiday's spirit! It's the 1st year that Livia can really get involved in the Christmas preparations & we had so much fun today! This morning, we've decorated the tree together (it's even more special because it's HER tree...it's in her bedroom since the living room is way too cluttered due to our basement's renovations...no place for a tree there!) Then this afternoon, my sister-in-law came for a Christmas cookie party! I think we've found ourselves a new tradition!

What are your Christmas traditions? Feel free to share in the comments section!
Talk to you soon!

4 months

Dear Logan,

Where has the last month gone, please tell me?! I'm still impressed with how calm & happy you are! Even though the teething has begun and I can clearly see you are in pain sometimes, it doesn't stop you from laughing, smiling & giggling...and I LOVE IT! You're interacting more & more with your sister and I can tell she loves it too! You came with me to some events (like this one), dinner with friends in noisy restaurants & even to my office's Christmas party & each & every time, you have proven to be such a little trooper! You make me so overly proud!

Can't get enough of this smile!

Dear Livia,

Once again this month, we've had our ups & downs...we still have some issues communicating but each & every day, I try to put myself in your shoes to better understand what you need from me as a mom. Some days I might feel like I'm doing everything wrong, but then again, I think parenthood is a constant work in progress...I keep learning each & every day because being a parent to a baby is quite different than being a parent to a toddler...and so on! As you grow up, my parenting skills need to adapt & I thank you for showing me the way! xo

That face!

*Some people have been asking where Logan's scarf came from & I would like to take a few minutes to share this precious info with you guys. Leonie is a 2 years old little girl affected by a rare condition called FOXG1 syndrome. Her parents are raising money with these cute scarves to help pay for all the necessities & equipment they need for their daughter to grow up in the best conditions possible.You can learn more about Leonie here (please note this website is in French) & buy your own scarf in their Etsy shop. Thanks for your help!*

Drink. Replenish. Glow.

Lately, I've been feeling a bit more tired than usual (see this post) & I thought that a little 1-day detox could help me get back on track & give me a little energy boost. I've discovered Glow, a Montreal-based company offering cleansing system. You can choose to go with a 1-day detox (just like me!) , 2 days or 3 days detox (if you feel wild! haha! ;) ) 6 smoothies per day will be delivered to your door to make things even easier.

Looks at those vibrant colors! Yummy!

BEFORE MY DETOX
For your detox to be as beneficial as possible, you have to prep your body! Here's a little recap of my menu the day before my detox:

Morning:
-glass of water with the juice of 1 lemon (as recommended by Glow)
-fruit salad (I used what I had on hands; clementine, grapefruit, banana & green apple

Around 10am, I drank an herbal tea (Forever nuts from David's Tea, so yummy!!!)

Lunch time:
- vegetables (carrots, celery, peppers) with a edamame & cilantro hummus dip
- grapefruit

Dinner:
- Arugula salad with avocado, grapefruit & hemp seeds
- Pumpkin soup (without any dairy product) with curry & caramelized onions

This salad tasted soooo good! I'll definitely be making it again!

D-DAY ("D" STANDS FOR DETOX!)
Each bottle are properly identified from 1 to 6 so you know exactly in what order you have to drink your smoothies. You also have a 3-hours time frame on each bottle to help you know when you should be drinking them, which is really helpful to plan your day. For those of you following me on IG, you've seen my pics & read my comments throughout the day. All the smoothies tasted great, I was a bit worried that the green one would have a strong "weed-like" taste, but it was actual quite refreshing. Even though I was allowed to have a few snacks since I'm breastfeeding, I was also worried I would feel hungry all day long, but to my great surprise, I wasn't! I ended up eating veggies & edamame hummus at lunch time & dinner time only...didn't feel the need to snack on anything else throughout the day!

Lunch time

I completed my detox last Friday and wanted to wait a few days to share my comments with you guys to see the effects on my body afterwards and I have to say, I feel quite great! I don't know exactly how to explain, but I feel "lighter" than I usually do. You know how you can often feel bloated after a meal...I felt like that most of the time since I gave birth about 4 months ago.This weekend was quite busy & Saturday night was a rough one (both kids woke up 2-3 times each between 2am & 6am) but I really feel less tired, more energized than I felt last week! Many of you also wanted to know if the detox had any "side-effects" on my baby boy since I'm breastfeeding him. Everything went smoothly with the baby, the only thing I could say is that the following day, he pooped a lot! Sorry for the details, but you guys asked & I deliver! ;) And when I say a lot, I mean quite more than usual... guess it had to do with all the fibers I consumed during the detox! Overall, I really liked my 1st detox experience! It's not too harsh & it's something I could see myself doing once or twice a year! :)

*Please note this is not an actual "sponsored" post, but I'd like to thank Glow for offering me a free trial. All opinions expressed in this post are my very own*

Shop like a boss!

When you're on mat leave with a tighter budget, you have to spend your money wisely! I try as much as possible to find great deals & sales to stay within budget ; I make my grocery list & plan my meals according to the flyer received every week, I keep an eye open for discount on children's clothing (you know how they always seem to outgrow their clothes at the speed of light?)...and I use my Air Miles card whenever possible. It's the perfect tool to help me save a few bucks because it's a free card (no subscription, monthly or annual fees) that allows me to get rewards. With the points earned, I can either shop on their online catalogue or use my points as cash rewards when shopping at participating sponsors locations (that's personally the way I use my Air Miles most!)

Last week, I was invited in a suite at Hotel Nelligan to learn about airmilesshops.ca & let me tell you, I was pretty psyched. Even though me & my boyfriend have Air Miles cards for as long as I can remember (at least 8 years I think!) I didn't know about this website. The idea is pretty simple (and pretty great too!)You simply have to visit airmilesshops.ca, enter your Air Miles collector number, then shop throughout a wide variety of online shops. Basically, this website acts as a portal where you can see all the participant online stores. There are more than a hundred shops to choose from, including Amazon, Anthropologie, Gap, Indigo, The Body Shop, Babies "R" Us & so on...By shopping through this "Air Miles portal", you'll earn rewards miles AND will also have access to some additional promotions from time to time, depending on the shops you choose! Pretty neat, right?  Who doesn't love shopping in the comfort of their own home? I know I love it! Especially when I get rewards! :)

Here are a few pics of the little event! I got to meet great women & also had a fun time with a few blogger friends!

Snacks!

Let's get shopping!

Blogger friends: on the left, Marianne from Ce que j'ai dans le ventre, in the middle, Alexïs from NaNa Toulouse

Alexïs & me with Air Miles ambassador Saskia Thuot

We were lucky enough to get spoiled with prepaid credit cards to shop online via airmilesshops.ca...And some of us scored big! It's now your turn to discover airmilesshops.ca, find great deals, earn points & shop like a boss! ;)
Enjoy!

*Please note this is not an actual "sponsored" post, though I've received a gift card to try out the website. All opinions expressed in this post are my very own*

The GUILT

Last week was a though one. I was sooooo freakin' tired, I felt like I had crashed into a wall at 80 miles/ hour...not exactly, but you get the point, right? When I had Livia, the same thing happened to me when she was about 3-4 months old, just like Logan is right now. It seems that for the first few months, the adrenaline kicks in and you don't really feel that tired....then BAM!!! It hits you right in the face.

So, tired mommy would have liked to sleep a lot, but her little lady simply wouldn't nap! (I've talked about it a few weeks back, in this post! And a kid who needs a nap but doesn't take one turns into a cranky kid around 3pm...at least at our house!) The equation is really simple here... REALLY tired mommy + cranky toddler = lack of patience...and a bit of guilt too!

This picture should be called "Now is not the time"...the day she refused to nap to end up falling asleep on the couch while dinner was about to get served...

I'm here to talk about guilt today because I feel that us moms tend to feel guilty all the time...When we're working full time, we feel guilty about not spending enough time with our kids...then, on mat leave with a 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th....) baby, we feel guilty if we send our eldest to day care a few times a week...we feel guilty when we don't have/ take the time to prepare a healthy meal from scratch for our kiddos...guilty if we let them watch more TV than usual because we are busy breastfeeding/ cooking dinner/ doing laundry/ washing dishes...guilty when we raise our voice because our patience has run out, but we know we shouldn't have....

Last week was a though one. Livia usually goes to day care 3 days a week (from about 9:30am to 3:30 pm) to give me time to work on my custom orders & run some errands. Last week, I sent her to day care 4 days & I FELT GUILTY! But why? Please tell me why? This extra day I sent her to day care allowed me to get the rest I needed with my baby boy. It allowed me to calm down, take a deep breath & be (or at least try to be) a better mom for her! All of that while she was having fun with friends & napping! (because yes, she refuses to nap at home but has absolutely no problem napping at day care!)

In the end, I realized that instead of feeling guilty, I should be proud. I should be proud I had took the decision to get some rest because a sleep-deprived impatient mom isn't fun, for nobody...a well rested, calm & happy mom is way much better!

Are you the type of mom who often fells guilty? Let's get rid of our "motherhood-guilt" by sharing in the comment section! ;)

Take care!

3 months

Dear Logan,

I feel like I haven't caught my breath for the last 3 months, but I'm saying that in the best way possible! You amaze me, you are such a happy baby! Smiling seems to come to you so naturally, makes me realize that I should follow your example & smile more often! You're only 3 months old, yet you're already so expressive & compassionate (you absolutely hate when your big sis cries, makes you feel so sad!) You started grabbing things a few weeks ago and you're getting the hang of it...your new trick: putting everything in your mouth!Already?!?! Sometimes I would like to bottle you up... please just be my happy smiley baby forever!

The little man is filling up ( and he finally started wearing his cloth diaper which make him look even chubbier!)

Dear Livia,

You are such an amazing big sister for Logan, I'm so proud of you. Lately however, we've been having our ups & downs...A few weeks ago you've entered one of your "stubborn" phase & I've been having a hard time communicating with you! I feel like you're testing my limits & I know that sometimes , I should just take a deep breath & be more patient with you! Some nights I go to bed thinking I might have been a little hard on you, I might doubt my parenting skills...but then, when you hug me & kiss me, I know that even if we don't always get along, I might be doing something right! Parenthood is the thoughest job, yet the most rewarding & your hugs & kisses are the best reward of all!

My little miss looking sooooo grown up!

Honestly in love with the Honest Company

Are you familiar with The Honest Company?
A line of safe, eco-friendly products for the whole family (including young kids & babies) created by the actress Jessica Alba & co-founder Christopher Gavigan.

Being very active (addicted should I say!) on Instagram, I noticed this brand a few months ago...Then it started to pop, here & there & I got very intrigued. Let's just say that the branding & packaging is so utterly pretty & cute, I just couldn't help myself. So I looked at their website and BAM! I had discovered the exact type of products I was looking for! But I was totally bummed when I realized that the shipping was only available to US residents!

I wrote a quick email to the company (and I think many fellow Canadians did the same!) asking if they were planning to offer shipping to Canada in a near future and guess what! About 2 months later, I was pleased to know that they now do!

The concept is pretty neat! You create an account, select our bundle (that's the most economic way to buy) then select your delivery date. It's so convenient to have your package delivered right to your door! I chose the Essentials bundle so for each delivery, I can choose the products I want & need out of a wide range of body care & house cleaning products.

I'm totally in love in love with their products & thought I could share with you guys! Here are the products that we've tried out so far!

 Conditioning Mist
Most probably my favorite product so far. Livia ALWAYS has tangled hair after her bath and she doesn't like it when I brush her hair. This little bottle works like pure magic + it's smells SOOOOO good...sweet orange vanilla...reminds me of orange creamsicles! It leaves her hair feeling soft and shiny too! I use it for myself also (you would do the same!) We're SOLD! :)

 Toilet Cleaner
I told a friend: "My toilet has simply never smelled sooo good! Seriously" That my friends says it all! When's the last time you had a conversation about your toilet cleaner with a friend? Just tell me when!...

Healing Balm
Livia's eczema is way less intense than when she was little, but with the cold season knocking at our door, you can totally tell that her fragile skin is starting to feel all of the cold weather's side effects. This balm is perfect for dry itchy skin, but we've also used it on little scratches & other whatnot... Livia calls it her "booboo cream"!

Oxy Boost
Logan has (finally!) started to use the cloth diapers this week and I think this will become a must in my laundry room. I always let the dirty diapers soak in warm water before putting them in the washer...Just add one of these babies & you'll make sure to get rid of any leftover stains or odors! Who doesn't like a non-toxic whitener & deodorizer?

Shampoo & Body Wash
I love "all-in-one" products for my little one! This shampoo/ body wash is soft, the smell is very subtle (I love when my babies smell great, but hate it when they end up smelling like you dropped a bottle of perfume on their heads, right?) and I love knowing that it is safe for them!


Are you using any Honest products? What's your favorite? I'd love to know! :)

*Please note this is absolutely not a sponsored post!*

Happy Halloween!!!

Nasty weather...Crying baby...The odds were not in my favor! :(
Soooo...this (sad) mama decided to stay home with baby and let daddy head out to collect some treats with our lil' cupcake! I would have looooove to see Livia on her first Halloween "trick or treat session" but hey!...we don't want our lil' popcorn to get sick, don't we! ;)

Miss Cupcake

"Did you say CANDY?!?!?!"

Who's hungry?

Sad mama/ Popcorn selfie!

Warm blanket & candy stash

Happy!!!

Taste test

Once again THANK YOU PINTEREST for the inspiration!
Hope you all had a great night!
...don't forget to brush your teeth! ;)

PS (November 1st): Want to see a little "behind the scenes" of these 2 costumes? My friends Catherine & Vanessa shared some pics on their blog called Le Bijou! Enjoy! :)

Little update...

Soooo... what have you been up to these last few weeks?
I got pretty busy elsewhere and *ALMOST* forgot about this little blog of mine! My bad!

My 1st little wholesale order kept me quite busy...Sewing all these items with 2 kids in the house, in between meals, diaper changes, breastfeeding sessions wasn't all that easy but I'm pretty proud of myself! :)

Afterwards, I had to tackle our Halloween costumes...just finished the 2nd one this morning! Here's a sneak peek...some pics you might have seen on Instagram if you are following me!

Part of Livia's costume...

"Our" costume (Logan & me! ;) )

I'll make sure to take some pics of the final result tomorrow night! It's going to be Livia's 1st time "trick or treating"! I'm sure she'll be pretty excited! ;)

What will your kids be dressed like tomorrow night?

2 months

Dear Logan,

This week, you turned 2 months old. Life is going crazy fast, but I'm trying to take it all in & enjoy each & every little moment I get to spend with you. Sometimes I wish my eyes could take pictures, just to make sure I don't forget a thing! I'm actually a real mamarazzi, (you must have figured this out by now) my iphone always in hand to make sure I can capture your sweet smiles. You smile a lot, more & more everyday and it's just the sweetest thing! In a few months, you'll probably be damn tired of me taking pictures! ;) Lately, you've started making the cutest little noises, like you were trying real hard to communicate with us & tell us something truly important! Your sister finds it soooo exciting when you try to "talk" to her!

Happy happy baby!

Dear Livia,

You are the sweetest sister Logan could have! You are so wise, always telling me what I should do when he cries: "Logan is crying for mommy's milk...Logan has yellow poop in his diaper". You're killing me with cuteness! You always want to help out whenever possible & that's just the sweetest thing. You love entertaining your brother on his play mat, I can't wait to see you both play together when he'll grow up (Actually, that's just a saying, I CAN totally wait since you are both growing up so fast!)

Say cheese!!!

A few months ago, when I wrote this post, somebody told me this:
"Your love will multiply, it won't be shared..."
Well that couldn't be more true! Just when you think you couldn't ever love more...your love grows x 2! This is a time of my life (our lives) I never ever want to forget!

Apple season!!!

Last weekend, we made our annual trip to a lovely orchard for apple picking! We've been going to the same place for about 4 years now and we love it! Maybe you seen last year's pictures in this post? Can't believe how little Livia was, with her short baby hair!!!

The weather was perfect, quite hot in fact for end of September. We had such a nice time! My new ergo baby turned out to be the perfect baby carrier! Logan slept all the way and we both were perfectly comfortable! That was a good buy, I totally recommend it if you're a new mom! :)

I wanted to share some pics sooner but my computer failed...then the week flew by like crazy (as usual, when does it ever stops!) But my computer is now fixed (Alleluia!!!) so here they are:

Running up the hill...

...and slowing down a little!

1st apple

Taste test!

Crazy hair!

Climbed all the way here with the ergo baby...definitely a good buy. Absolutely no back pain!

Me & my kiddos

My little climber...

These two...

Little helper...

My baby & me

Taking a break

Talking to the chickens

Cooking with apples... Lots of prepping!

Yummy apple butter!

Apple & Ginger...my new favorite!

Hope you're all having a great weekend!
Talk to you soon!