Change Is In The Air

I've been thinking about a lot of things in my life lately and contemplating how I can improve, make way for change. There are already a number of changes in the horizon with Dan now being in school and hoping to be in a new program (for his career!) come January. A new baby coming our way this summer and of course the boys learning and growing each and every day.

But lately I've been feeling a need to make some personal changes for myself. It wasn't too long ago that I was a motivated and ambitious young lady with plenty off goals and dreams I had set out to achieve. As life took it's course some of those dreams and goals were pushed aside or changed direction while I focused my sights on different things, like having kids! However I feel like I've come to a point where I need to make some new evaluations for what I want to achieve for myself and family over the next few years. I know things will inevitably end up different than what I plan out, but I still find it productive to get myself on some sort of track.

There is much in the back of my mind but I think it's time to finally take out the old dreams and ideas dust them off and search for where I want to go in my future.

What about you, do find it productive to set out goals for yourself? Or are you a free spirit and just go where the wind takes you?

Jordan

Delicious Carrot Cake

I don't normally share recipes because mine are all kinda boring, but I wanted to share this one that I found because it is absoluteness hands down the best carrot cake I have ever had! If you're anything like me and you love a good carrot cake you have to give this recipe a try. The recipe and step by step instructions can be found here at Sprinkle Some Sunshine.

On the blog she makes a fancy cake with beautiful presentation. I didn't have the time or energy for that so I simply halved her recipe and made my cake in a 9x9 brownie pan. Doesn't matter that my cake was very basic and not visually appealing like hers the end result is still the same, amazing carroty cake deliciousness!

Here's the full recipe (again I just did half to make one 9x9 brownie pan)
Ingredients:
3/4 lb. (about 2 1/2 cups) peeled & finely grated carrots (I used the blender)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 TBS cinnamon
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Prep your carrots and set aside.
3. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
4. Beat eggs with electric mixer until frothy about 1 minute.
5. Gradually add sugar and beat until mixture is thick and light coloured (3-4 minutes)
6. Add in oil in a steady stream and then add the vanilla.
7. Add flour mixture, combine until just mixed.
8. Fold in carrots.
9. Pour into your baking dish or choice and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

On the blog she also makes a yummy cream cheese icing and garnishes the cake with nuts. I already had some leftover cream cheese frosting in the fridge from something else I had made so I just used that rather then make something new.

Really this cake is the best, so after you make it enjoy it!

Jordan

Felt Flower Wreath

I have this amazingly crafty friend who makes incredibly beautiful felt flower wreaths. I've wanted to make one for a very long time, but just haven't gotten my lazy butt around to doing it.

On Friday after I took the boys to tumble time I stopped by the craft store (since getting out the door is half the battle) and finally bought me some colorful felt so that I could finally make my wreath! I'm not going to show how I made the flowers, because I didn't take any pictures of the process. But I will share the links to tutorials that I used to make my felt flowers below.

I only used 2 flower variations to make my wreath and just repeated these two styles of flowers in a variety of sizes. I used this rose bud felt flower found at Creative Jewish Mom, which I think is absolutely lovely! She uses her flowers to make a bouquet but obviously I just used her tutorial on how to make the rosebud flower and then put them on a wreath!

The other flower I made was found here at Craftiness Is Not An Option. Instead of using 6 felt circles as she does I used 7. I used 1 circle for the flower base, 4 to fill the bottom layer of the flower and then 2 in the center rather than 1. I felt (no pun intended!) that it made the flower look a little more full and aesthetically I liked it better.

After making all my flowers I made then in an arrangement on the wreath, glued them in place and voila! My beautiful new spring wreath.

Can I also just share that I am proud that this wreath cost me about $5 to make. I scored the wreath base at the Goodwill for only $2 and spent about $3 on felt. Win win!

Close up on some of the flower detailing. 

And hanging on the front door, pardon the scratchy paint,
we need to give the door a fresh cost of paint!

I must say I'm quite happy with how it all turned out! Have a happy weekend!

Jordan

Pregnancy Diary: 15 Weeks

Hard to believe that I'm already 15 weeks along, but the day has come and gone (Tuesday) and I wanted to get this post out before I get any further along ;)

A gal I know kept a great record of her first pregnancy on her blog and I thought it was a great idea when she did it. Problem was I was already done with both of my pregnancies. Anyway I've decided that I want to keep a better record of this pregnancy and if I blog I'm way more likely to do it, and it will be etched in stone forever rather than on some piece of scrap paper that I will inevitably throw in the garbage!

So really this is more for me than for you. And I truly don't care if you care to read it, I just want to remember some things that happen along the way so that I'll have memories of at least one of my pregnancies!

Not a great photo but it will do.

How Far Along: 15 weeks 2 days
Weight Gain: 9lbs
Size of Baby: An apple.

Food Cravings: Grapefruit and lemon anything. It's been like that with each one of my pregnancies, I just ache to eat a grapefruit every day! I could probably drink an entire gallon of grapefruit juice. Weird I know. Also fruit smoothies, I really just want to have fruit drinks all day long.

Food Aversions: Nothing really. Occasionally I just don't feel like eating things that are around me, but there is nothing specific that really turns me away.

Baby Movements: None yet.

Overall Mood/Feeling: Tired. I wish I could sleep say 12 hours a day! That would be nice but no such luck for me. All those books that talk about resting while you are pregnant are clearly for people who are pregnant for the first time (or have really awesome kids who nap!) I don't get a day time nap because my 2.5 year old doesn't sleep, what I wouldn't give for one though! I do find myself vegetating on the couch way more often than usual lately, which I don't really like because I know I'm being unproductive and feel mighty lazy, but I don't seem to have the will power to change it either. So sitting on the couch like a couch potato it is for now!

Luckily much of my grouchiness from the first trimester has subsided. I don't know but I think I turned into the wicked witch of the west for a few months. I was just so darn irritable and down right mean. I do sincerely apologize to my kids for being so short and impatient with them. And I am incredibly grateful that they will not remember just how horrid I was. I'm also glad to have a forgiving husband, cause I wasn't too nice to him either. Hopefully it continues to be uphill from here!

My Thoughts: Holy crap I'm going to have three kids under the age of 3 in six months! What was I thinking! I must have thought I could be superwoman or something. Or had a moment of sheer insanity because I don't know many people who have 3 kids under 3! Yikes I hope I know what I signed up for. And can I get a sleep refill before this third one make an appearance because I think I may need it- maybe I'll just run away for week and sleep somewhere!

Ok seriously though I am excited to meet this new baby. There's just lots to try to sort out before he/she makes his/her arrival. Me getting on top of things before it all falls to pieces again would be a good first step!


Jordan

The Top 5 Reasons I LOVE Winter!

Being a Canadian I have a strong relationship with the season we are proud to call winter, let me tell you some of the reasons I love winter so much!

1. Snow- It's white, it's cold, it's everywhere! I mean lets be honest who doesn't love this stuff. It's brings so much joy to my life, brushing it off my car, shoveling it off my walk way, trudging through it to get wherever I need to go. It's just awesome. And you know what I love even more when it gets all brown and mushy and dirty looking, now that's the best- winter at it's finest.

2. Getting Into My Cold Car - I love being able to bundle up in my warmest parka, put on that giant scarf of mine and those big warm mitts then climb into my freezing cold car, only to have it blow cold air at me for the next 20 minutes while I drive here and there, getting errands done, attempting to get the kids out of the house, going to work, you know just the basic necessities!

3. Driving- There is nothing that brings me greater joy than huddling over the steering wheel in my cold car while trying to see out the half iced windshield, while being on the road when it's slippery and dirty and full of all sorts of people who have completely forgotten how their cars work because it snowed. I mean doesn't it just sound thrilling! It is let me tell you, if you've never done it before you're seriously missing out. You should get on up here and go for a drive.

4. Perpetual Sickness- It`s clearly not enough for me, Dan or the kids to have a cold or flu once during the winter, but there must be a constant bout of illness in the home. Did I mention that between the four of us is seems like there is always someone who's not up to 100% health. Don`t get me wrong we`re not a super sick family, but I feel as though if it`s not one it's the other. Colds have been passed from Marshal to Cohen and back again. Throw in a few days of upset tummies, weather migraines and sore throats and we've got it all covered.

5. Being Housebound- This is probably the top reason I love winter. I love being stuck at home with my kids all day for days, make that weeks, at a time. It's just so much fun seeing how crazy we can make each other. I know Marshal likes to play this game and he's darn good at it too. Who knew a 2.5 year old could reduce me to moments of complete "joy" nearly everyday?! The best part is how much I love feeling trapped in my own home. like its a prison I just can't seem to break free from. Ah good old winter!

Well there you have it folks 5 reasons why winter is just the best-est! It's no wonder it's the longest season in Canada, I mean it's clearly making lots of people happy for months on end. I know I'm loving every minute of it.

Too bad I just don't have the money to jump on the next flight to Mexico! Oh wait that would definitely wouldn't make me feel any better right now ;)

Jordan

Brothers!

I never thought I'd dress my kids in matching outfits  but my mom gave the boys a number of matching clothes for Christmas. I just couldn't resist putting them in these shirts and catching a picture of these special little boys. I'm so glad that they have each other and are so close in age. I hope that they will always know how special it is to have a brother. 

Moments Like These

It's moments like these that make it all worth it. 

I'm certain the number of times he will fall asleep in my arms is limited, so even though a terrible temper tantrum is what lead to this point it was still worth it. I love my little 2.5 year old even in all his terrible two glory. He certainly has a strong will power for what he wants in life. Lets hope that as he gets older he uses this will power for good.