Don't Drop the Soother! #DrBrowns #healthywipes

Confession: when I had my first baby, I was definitely that mom who would quickly look to see if anyone saw the soother fall from the carseat or stroller. A quick wipe from my hand, and back to the babe.

Now, I completely realize that wiping with my hand is not sanitary in the slightest, but to be totally honest...I had no idea how else I was supposed to clean the soother and get it back to him quickly to avoid meltdown city.

Dr. Brown's has the perfect solution, and one that I keep in the car for just such emergencies as....

After walking big brother to school and getting back to the car, sweet baby Graeme spit out his soother and before I could catch it...right down on the dirt, gravel and weeds on the side of the road by the rear wheel of my car. Gross. And of course I didn't pack a spare soother!

Then I remembered that I had Dr. Brown's Pacifier and Bottle Wipes in the car, neatly stowed in my Thirty-One Pack and Pull Caddy that is in the middle seat between the boys.

With just a quick wipe, I was able to safely clean Graeme's pacifier and give it back to him so he could go back to dreamland and I could go grab a coffee. Sanity restored!

A few features about these convenient Healthy Wipes that you should note:

• scent free
• free of alcohol, SLS, parabens and formaldehydes
• made with plant based Xylitol

I'm so glad that I had them in the car, and keep an extra pack in our diaper caddy just in case there is a spit up issue in the middle of the night and I need to wipe down a mess in his nursery. With the Dr. Brown's Pacifier and Bottle Wipes, it gives great peace of mind to know they give a natural clean to things that go in your baby's mouth.

Where do we keep them now, and how do we use them?

• Diaper bag to clean bottle nipples if you forget the cap
• Diaper caddy for midnight messes
• Front of car console for cleaning the tops of drink lids (they're great for adults, too!)
• Backseat organizer for dropped soothers and teethers

If you're a new mom, or new again mom, I highly recommend stashing a pack of the Pacifier and Bottle Wipes in your purse or car. You just never know when they will come in handy!

Disclaimer: I was provided these Healthy Wipes, along with the Tooth & Gum and Nose & Face (great for in between baths, and cleaning all of the rolls and folds!) wipes, for the purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Juicing and #Pregnancy #fitmama

So, I'm now a full month into juicing during my pregnancy and I have to say, I really enjoy it. Everything from prepping my fruits and veggies, to testing out new combinations, to cleaning my juicer afterward. Every step of the process I find to be almost an exercise in being mindful. I am completely present for the whole process and I love that it is how I start my day.

What have I learned through this process? Well, a few things.

Green juices aren't scary; they're actually pretty yummy if you make them right!
Celery in a juice is disgusting
The more varieties I can pack into a juice the better
Lemon or apple can fix almost any nasty taste
Vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron {which is super important from 20wks+ during pregnancy!}
Now that I'm getting loads of fruits and veggies, I CRAVE them!
I would so much rather spend money on fresh produce than on overprocessed junk
When in doubt, ask The Blender Girl!

I have loads of recipes that will be posting throughout the next few months, and definitely will keep juicing on a daily basis for the rest of my pregnancy {at the very least}. Once baby is here...oh gosh...who knows! It doesn't take a tonne of time to prep, juice and clean up, but with a preschooler and baby in tow? Oh gosh!

Fingers crossed though, because I have really loved this journey and it certainly has given me the healthiest pregnancy I could have asked for. It's also really awesome to know that I am giving my baby such fantastic nutrients on a daily basis!

Healthy Eating Out, review of Denny's Fit Fare Menu

You've been invited out for brunch with your friends, and they've picked Denny's. You start thinking of buttery pancakes and bacon, waffles and the ever popular Grand Slam. Then you think of all of the running that you've been doing lately, the pants that finally fit and consider not going for brunch so as to not derail yourself from your healthy goals.

Well! Go get that brunch, girl! Denny's has developed a new Fit Fare menu with delicious options such as the Loaded Veggie Omelette (under 15g of fat, and served with fruit salad on the side!), Fit Slam (under 500 calories) and even a fabulous salad, Cranberry Apple Chicken (also available in half sizes).

Oh and those pancakes that you want to have, but feel guilty about? Check these out

Yes, friends, those are banana pecan pancakes. Made with whole wheat flour, and with a side of egg whites and turkey bacon, this is a DELICIOUS protein packed breakfast that will keep you going all day. Under 15g of fat, and with 8g of fiber, this is an option you won't feel guilty about.

Now when my girlfriends suggest we go for brunch, I have Denny's in mind, knowing that I can get a healthy breakfast at a reasonable price, and not feel guilty for the rest of the day!

Search for a Denny's near you, here!

Disclaimer: I was compensated by Denny's with a gift card to try the Fit Fare menu. All opinions expressed are my own.

New Year New Me...Week Off

It's been a full week now since I've worked out and done an Insanity circuit. Between taking care of a very sick toddler over the weekend, and doing what I can to help my Husband mend from his chest cold, it was only a matter of time before I too got sick.

I've really been listening to my body, and have given myself a break. Do I feel bad? No. What good would it be to push myself through a 59 minute Insanity interval, when I can barely catch my breath after blowing my nose?

None.

I have, however, kept drinking my Shakeology and it has really been helping me to have more energy in having to chase around a toddler while sick, and kept a full blown flu at bay.

How?

It's all the holistic nutrition behind Shakeology.



Seriously, the stuff is that good for you. I choose to have it as my first meal of the day. My favourite is to mix it up in the blender with water, almond milk and some frozen strawberries. It makes me feel good about what I am putting into my body, which sets me up for making healthier food choices throughout the rest of the day.

It also promotes healthy weight loss, and I found it interesting that while I haven't done Insanity in a week now, I still have lost another 2lbs. Shakeology is helping me achieve my goals, feel good about myself, and I love knowing that there are zero chemicals {not even fructose or sucralose!} going in my body as I start a new day.

Can you say the same about your breakfast?

Beachbody coach Dara distel, before and after Shakeology

*Disclaimer: I am provided the Shakeology shakes by my Beachbody coach Dara Distel for the purposes of getting healthy, and blogging about the product.

Let Their Confidence Shine

Setting your kiddos up for success at school {and at home} is something that is oh so important for our toddler to learn. From doing crafts with Mama and discovering our artsy side, to playing ball with Daddy and using up some physical energy...whatever the case, it always is reinforced with high-fives and lots of love.

One thing that we've learned, is to stay consistent and positive with him. We started Owen (now 2years old, but really this is so important at every age!) at The Little Gym in January, and we have learned oh-so-much.

First and foremost, lots of praise can go a very long way. We are always praising Owen with lots of clapping, high-fives (or five-fives as he calls them) and great big hugs. We definitely have found that when he gets a high-five, he's more inclined to exhibit that positive, confident and healthy habit over and over again!

Secondly, thanking them for exhibiting that positive behavior. The teachers at The Little Gym always encourage us to thank our little ones for coming back to the red mat...and boy oh boy, does it ever work!! Owen seems to run to me for a great big hug and I always thank him for coming back to the big red mat, and he gives me the biggest smiles! Now, 6 months into the program, he rarely strays.

Also, encouraging them to be who they are and embracing them when they might not be cooperating is something that is really important in building their confidence. Recently, Owen's had some issues with the big beam....it's high, intimidating and climbing those stairs can be a tricky thing. But...with gentle encouragement, and not pushing him until he's comfortable....he's right up there with the bigger kiddo's now, and totally dominating it!

How will this all translate to pre-school? Well...he knows limits and is respectful of other peoples limits. He knows that when he's not comfortable with something, to ask for help, and is confident in seeking a grown up to get that assistance. He knows to keep trying new things, even if they're scary...which means interacting with new kiddos, saying new words, and meeting new teachers along  the way.

Knowing that he's confident, and that we instilled that confidence in him with gentle encouragement, lots of positive praise, and modelling that positive behaviour is kind of like a little pat on the back for a parenting job well done!

As a member of Clever Girls Collective, I was selected to participate in the Healthy Habits program sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and Colgate-Palmolive. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #healthyhabits #cgc