Healthy snack Ideas

Being a stay at home mother is the best job in the world but it isn't great for my eating habits. I tend to snack throughout the day instead of having actual meals. Which is fine if every snack was a healthy one. So I decided to stop messing around and take the first steps to better eating habits. If I want my children to eat healthy and continue to eat healthy throughout their lives I need to start now.

The first step is to change the way I grocery shop. If I make better decisions at the store I won't have any other choices while at home.
Making a grocery list is key to this step. Also, I'm sure I am not alone in saying that if I go shopping hungry, I end up bringing home several things I don't need and probably not on the list.
 

Here is a list of some healthy SNACK ideas:

1. low fat cottage cheese and peaches
2. apples, oranges
3. whole wheat flatbread and cucumbers dipped in hummus
4. fat free yogurt (I buy dairy-free yogurt such as soy or almond milk)
5. raw almonds
6. grapes
7. baby carrots, celery and broccoli with fat free ranch dressing
8. oatmeal
9. air popped popcorn
10. peanut butter on Triscuits or celery
11. Kashi crackers and granola bars
12. hard boiled eggs
13. fat free wheat thins
14. organic fruit leather
15. low sodium veggie chips
16. organic applesauce
17. pretzels
18. chunk light tuna in water, drained and placed on a bed of lettuce
19. one 1 oz package of Planters NUT-trition nuts (these are SOOO good!)
20. Annies organic crackers
21. whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, sliced banana and a light drizzle of honey (great filling breakfast option too!)
22. Apple slices with peanut butter
23. Kale chips
24. clementine oranges
25. raisins

I'm BACK!

Holy cow it has been a long time since I have posted anything ! Time has just slipped away! It was a very busy summer and fall and I have been busy preparing for Christmas since Thanksgiving ! I have many post ideas and hopefully will be able to stay more active on my web page.
I first want to wish everyone Happy Holidays ! I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings and I hope this merry season will be filled with family friends joy and good food !

A lot has changed in my daily life. Everything from my skincare/makeup routine to having to do some major baby-proofing throughout my home. My son is 11 months already! And boy have I learned a lot ! Looking forward to sharing family recipes, product reviews, my new and wonderful skincare finds, and plenty of fun holiday DIYs!!

How to live like every day is Earth Day

In honor of earth day I wanted to share some of the things me and my family do daily to be "green" and also our goals to improve our lifestyle  and health as an Eco friendly family.

Simple ways to be Green:

1. Always turn off lights, tvs, radios and computers when not using them
2. Unplug all electronics when not using them. We unplug our coffee pot , toaster, cell phone chargers etc because even if they are off they are still using energy. (this will save you money too)
3. At night we try to use candles for light when we can
4. The obvious :RECYCLE ! Recycle paper, plastic ,glass, grocery bags, batteries , electronics, clothes and furniture(remember ,donating to organizations such as Goodwill is still recycling !)
5. Use plastic reusable containers for food instead of one time use bags

DIY Painted Mirror

I love garage sales and Goodwill and always seem to find something I like, but sometimes it's not exactly what  I want so I have to make it my own. Today I painted this wood floor length mirror a minty blue/green. My room is mainly neutral colors so I thought that this would add a nice springy pop of color ! I only did one coat of acrylic paint (Americana in sea breeze) because I wanted just a hint of the wood to still show through the paint to get a little "shabby chic". I have painted all sorts of goodwill items such as frames, clocks, candlestiks, even a basket I now use in my baby's nusery to hold his blankets.
Pick out some paint at the craft store, get a couple different size brushes and get painting !
Don't forget:

• wear old clothes
• always lay a tarp or newspapers down first
• have paper towels and water there for mess-ups
• plan ahead!

My Spring Cleaning Checklist

My spring cleaning checklist does not have every single cleaning to-do on it. I leave out some of the daily/weekly/monthly to-do's and try to concentrate on things that are often left unnoticed by me. I also find that I get inspired to get rid of things I don't use or wear anymore during springtime  ( probably so I can make room for new things !)

1. Go through food pantry- check expiration dates, wipe off tops of cans with wet rag, drop off food to shelter that has been sitting on your shelf for months

2. Go through fridge- again check expiration dates, take everything out and clean/disinfect entire fridge ( don't forget under and on top too!)

New Momma Tip # 4

Dollar stores are my new favorite place to get cleaning products, personal items, décor, craft items and more !
For most cleaning products , dollar stores are the place to go. I get my "pledge", glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, and even wipes for my wet Swiffer! The only product I buy from other stores is a natural kitchen cleaner that does not contain any harsh chemicals.


Decorative items are also great finds at the dollar store, if you know what to look for and how to use them. Picture  frames , candles, incense, vases, etc. are super cheap  ways to add charm to your home. I love to get simple small baskets and use them for decorative storage around my home. Baskets can be quite pricey so buying them for a dollar means you can buy several !

DIY Nursery Decorations

One of the handmade decorations I crafted for my baby boys nursery is an easy cheap wall decoration that I made in under 20 minutes. I had the materials needed already in my home so this project cost nothing !
First I picked out a piece of ribbon and decided how long I wanted it to hang down on my wall. Then I searched on Google for a clipart shape of an elephant. (You can use any animal shape or a flower or umbrella... anything that matches your nursery theme!) I don't have a printer so I just traced very lightly the outline of the elephant right off my laptop. Once I had the "stencil" drawn out I took several different pieces of scrapbook paper and cut the elephant shape out very carefully. I then glued each elephant to the piece of ribbon  just a couple inches apart from each other. After I let it dry I then hung it up on the wall with a tack. SO EASY! so get crafting !! : D

makeup review

I bought a couple products from Target the other day and wanted to share what I thought of them.
The first is the NIVEA Lip Butter in Raspberry rose kiss. It feels exactly how it sounds- it glides on like a thick creamy butter but doesn't make your lips sticky. It really hydrates them and it tastes and smells great! There are other flavors ( caramel cream and original )and I am definitely going to have to try them. Hopefully they come out with more !

The second makeup product I bought was the new Cover Girl Clump Crusher. I am pretty picky about mascara and I have tried all sorts of types and brands. This one is now one of my favorites. It makes my lashes very long , a bit volumized and  you can layer several coats of mascara and it won't clump ! I also really like these types of mascara brushes.

Purse Organization Tip

Today at Target I discovered a way to keep all my reward/loyalty cards in order. For around $6 I bought the "Organizher". Then I got a $5 simple credit card and ID holder from Target as well. I had this huge fat wallet that limited what type of purses I could use and was so crammed full of stuff I never could find anything anyways ! This will make finding cards much easier! If you are a rewards junky like me- I highly recommend getting one of these !

A Bit of Retail Therapy

Today I finally got in to see the Pediatrician for my son's 2 month check-up and vaccines. I was practically in tears while the nurse stuck my poor baby in the thigh with those giant needles ! I had never heard him scream like that, it was so stressful ! But he calmed down fairly quickly and I decided to make both our days better by taking us to the Cherry Creek Mall for some exercise and retail therapy ! And for Liam, a really nice nap while I pushed him around in the stroller. I didn't want to spend too much time or too much money so I was quick to go in and out of stores and was "power" walking with the stroller for a bit of exercise.

In almost every mall the first store I always go to is Victoria's Secret. I almost always have a coupon and love getting the free panties each month. I adore their bras, panties , body products and even their makeup. Today the PINK body products were on sale 3 for $30 and I had a $25 giftcard so I got some yummy bath and body goodies !

from left to right: PINK Spring Break Jasmine Lime 2-in-1 wash and scrub (this smells so amazing and so perfect for summer!) PINK Fresh & Clean body butter, PINK Fresh & Clean body wash& scrub (it smells so feminine and fresh- perfect for spring ! )

 I also had a coupon for a free VS workout tote that will be perfect for a reusable grocery bag or to carry my workout stuff down to the fitness center at my new apartment !

 

 

The second store  I usually stop in is Forever 21 . Their clothes are always super cute and cheap. And even if I don't have time to try on clothes Ill still stop in to check out their crazy cheap accessories.

 

Here are the two accessories I got today:

 

 

 These bows only cost $1.80 ! ( I have several styles of these)

This silky purple and cream floral head wrap/ head band only cost $2.80 and will be perfect all spring long when I want my bangs out of my face

 

 

 

 

 

I also  like to get these nail polishes there because they are actually decent and are also super cheap ! I got the "neon pink"  color for only $2.80

 

 

 

 

 

I had some time to try on a couple shirts and I landed on this one because I can dress it up a little bit with feminine jewelry, black skinnies and nice flats and I can just wear it with jeans and flops.  That is what I always look for in a piece of clothing- how many ways can I wear it and how often will I really wear it.

The faded light floral pattern immediately caught my eye in the store ( florals and lace always do !) and the super soft knit material and flowy style of it are definitely two things I love in shirts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And last but not least I decided to run into LOVECOULTURE because they also usually have cheap accessories and I was looking for a cheap springy scarf. And I found one !

This scarf was only $6.90 and the girly soft pink will look great this spring. A girl can NEVER have too many scarves ! 

DIY jewelry holder

DIY jewelry holder

I made this jewelry holder for myself a few months back when I was going crazy with boredom! It's a very easy, customizable project. You can paint instead of stain the wood, use different shapes and sizes wood and the knobs can be anything you want. Get creative and please post your own jewelry holder ideas!

Materials needed:

• a piece of wood whatever size you wish
• A drill and drillbit
• At least 3 knobs of some sort- can use hooks or old drawer pulls
• Vinegar
• Steel wool
• jar with lid
• coffee grinds
• sand paper
• saw tooth picture hanging hardware
• a ruler

Step 1 : Find or buy a piece of wood. I went to Home Depot and grabbed a piece of cedar out of the scrap bin at the back of the store. I asked nicely for one of the employees to cut the corners of the wood for me

Step 2: Finding the right drawer pulls. I found my drawer pulls at a local boutique- thrift shops and garage sales are great places too. any type of pull or hook can be used.

Step 3: Sanding and staining. First I sanded all the edges of the piece of wood so it was all nice and smooth. Then I used a homemade natural stain:
Taking vinegar and coffee grounds, I placed a steel wool pad in the mixture with a lid on top of the jar. I let it soak overnight and the next day I rubbed the mixture all over the piece of wood with the steel wool pad. I let that dry all day. ( don't worry, the vinegar smell goes away)

Step 4: I drilled 3 holes evenly spaced apart on the wood to fit my drawer pulls

Step 5: I screwed in  all 3 pulls into the wood, fastening them with their washers at the back of the wood

Step 6: Nail the saw tooth picture hanging hardware  ( I also go this at Home Depot) to the back of the wood- make sure it is in the center! You can even add two of these if the piece of wood you chose is longer

Make My Notebook

MAKEMYNOTEBOOK is a local company that makes hand printed and assembled notebooks using recycled and U.S. sourced materials. They are one of a kind journals! I picked mine up at the Sugar Plum Bizarre in Denver and I absolutely love it ! I randomly write little notes and reminders to my baby as often as I can.
makemynotebook.com
You choose your size, style, color, filler paper, and binding

Lady T Design- paper love !

My sister Theresa and I share the same love for paper. She is a very creative seamstress and card maker and I am always inspired by her creations ! Check out her etsy site and blog to be inspired and to buy some handmade one of a kind products at amazing prices!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyTDesigns?page=1
http://ladytdesigns.wordpress.com
Here are just a couple of her note card designs :

 

 

Also be sure to check out the "Natalie" collection named after me and my obsession for birds !

 

Theresa made all the decorations and invites for my baby shower. It was PERFECT thanks to my two sisters Theresa and Allison ! Here are some of the things that Theresa had made:

Check out her blog to see pictures of the bibs she made me and my awesome unique diaper bag she made me too !!( I get compliments on it all the time ! )

 

I <3 p="" paper="">

IKEA Adventure

Today my boyfriend, baby Liam and I spent the day wandering IKEA. I love IKEA like everyone does I am sure. But now that I have a baby and notice all the kid-friendly things there, I have even more respect for this awesome cheap place ! While eating their delicious Swedish meatballs, I noticed a bottle warmer plugged in ready for anyone to use ! There was a children's play and eat area in the cafeteria as well. A short sink in the bathroom for shorties and lots of toys to play on/with in the kids bedroom showroom. Everything was so adorable I think I smiled the whole time I was in there ! We bought Liam a cute decoration for over his cradle (soon to be crib!) It looks like a circus tent and even though his theme isn't circus, it's elephants turtles and giraffes, I had to get it costing only $10 !!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40203816/?query=MYSIG+Bed+canopy

Joanie's inspirations - because all woman inspire

Check out my mother's beautiful handmade scarves and don't forget to read her story !! She has new spring scarves that are super cute and I am sure you will be inspired !

http://www.etsy.com/shop/joaniesinspirations/

New Momma Tip #3

Newborns can't really play with many toys just yet and sometimes it's hard to keep them occupied for just a few minutes so you can clean, cook , even go to the bathroom ! I was using my baby sling while I did everything. And even though it works quite well because then you are hands free, my back and shoulders started to really feel the strain. And for me, it is a little hard to get him in and out so having to change him became a pain. The only thing we had to put him in besides his cradle was a swing and he was quickly getting bored and irritated with it.
So another Babies R Us trip we went ! And we picked out the perfect play mat for our active baby. Liam is a kicker- he was in the womb too- and so we found a playmat that has a piano on the end so baby can kick it and play music with his feet ! There is also the typical bar above his head with toys he can grab and shake and the best one- a mirror ! He loves looking at himself in the mirror and "talks" to it all the time.
Now he stays busy playing for up to 30 minutes ! Smiling and cooing and getting a good workout too ! He usually needs a nap afterwards so I can somewhat plan my day now. This playmat has given me the freedom to get some stuff done around the house, catch up on some reading and the best part- my baby loves it and I love watching him play in it !


Fisher-Price Discover 'N Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym $54.99
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11835073

New Momma Tip #2

When the department stores and magazines and baby stores give you that checklist of "necessities" to buy for your new baby, there are some things that you really don't need, some things you do, and a few things that are just convenient to have.
One thing that I saw on a checklist that I thought was ridiculous and not necessary was a baby wipe warmer. "I'm sure my baby will survive with cold wipes..." is what went through my mind. But guess what I was out buying at Babies R Us just a few days after Liam was born?  Yep. A stupid wipe warmer ! I learned fast that cold wipes were no big deal during the day, but in the middle of the night, would you want YOUR behind wiped with a cold wipe? Not so much. It was much easier using a warm wipe that my baby barely noticed at 3 a.m. And a plus : they actually are decently priced!
The one I have is called the Prince Lionheart Premium Wipe Warmer
It's $30 at Babies R Us

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3557338


this would make a great baby shower gift too !!

New Momma Tip #1

In all my baby books and online baby articles that I read, they all said that it was very important to wash all baby clothes, blankets, sheets, hats, socks, etc. with baby laundry detergent before you bring baby home from the hospital. So, that's what I did !
Unfortunately, however, we recieved more 0-3 month clothes than my baby could ever possibly wear. And since I washed all the clothes as I got them, all tags were cut off. He has been growing out of clothes before he even gets a chance to wear them once !

My advice : Only wash about 5 outfits before baby comes home! That way for at least 5 days after coming home from the hospital you won't have to do any laundry. But really, newborns aren't very messy and you don't really have to change them every single day. Then you can take the tags off and wash clothes as you need them.

Exclusively Breast Pumping- my experience

While I was pregnant and spending hours pouring over all my baby books, There was one thing that never concerned me. I had all the confidence in the world that I would have no issues breastfeeding. All I have ever heard was how "breast was best" and why wouldn't I breastfeed? It's FREE!  But not everything goes according to plan (as I found out very soon during delivery when I ended up recieving an epidural when I "planned" on delivering naturally.) My sweet baby boy did not want to latch on. I went to the classes, I read the books, I even did an online class ! I had "perfect technique" says all the nurses and lactation consultants that were in the hospital. But my little guy did not want anything to do with my breast. When he would momentarily latch, he would suck so hard and pull his top lip in, so that I was instantly bruising, cracking, and eventually bleeding. I was so frustrated and stressed out that I couldn't feed my baby. And because he had jaundice, they had to give him a couple ounces of formula which absolutely broke my heart.

Postpartum ACNE

The first thing I want to talk about is something I was not prepared for after having my baby. There are just some things that are not really mentioned in all those baby books I read. On top of a momma pouch, bags under my eyes from the sleepless nights, and trying to adjust to my new body, life, and baby... comes  ACNE. (bum bum buuum)
I started to get acne in my 3rd trimester but it was not anything I couldn't cover up with makeup. I have never had acne or any problems with skin before pregnancy. It got so bad after having Liam that it was making me lose all self confidence I had left and I didn't want to leave the apartment. It also started to hurt because it was so irritated and inflamed. I searched online all day long looking for remedies, mainly for natural home remedies like lemon scrubs and honey face masks. I tried so many different types of cleansers, scrubs and acne gels and lotions, what ended up happening is that my skin got so irritated by all these different products, it got extremely dry and the acne got WORSE!