We're Moving!

Change is part of life.  It's not always fun or easy, but it's necessary.  For our little family, it's time to make a pretty big change.  We're moving.  Now, there is a small possibility that we'll simply be moving to the other side of Orlando, but more likely we'll be moving to San Marcos, TX (it really all depends on my husbands company and where they need him more).  Bottom line is, we're moving out of the home to which we brought our son home from the hospital.  It's bittersweet...we have created many fond memories here and we will truly miss our family and friends in Orlando, yet the prospect of a fresh start in a new city is exciting!

I will be sharing our journey with you on this blog and giving out some tips and tricks along the way for how to make an easy  less difficult move.

As of right now, my focus is to purge and organize.  You don't realize how much stuff you've accumulated until it's time to move it all.  And man, do we have a lot of stuff.  My first piece of advice here is simple: get real.  Are you REALLY going to wear those skinny clothes ever again?  Not likely...you'll want to buy new stuff after losing weight.  Are you REALLY going to fix that lamp you got for $1 at a garage sale last summer?  Probably not.  Relieve yourself of the junk that just takes up space.  If you find yourself on the fence about something or just having a hard time letting go in general...let me break it down for you like this:  Is the cost to replace the item greater than the cost to move the item?  If yes, and you really believe that in your new home you will have room for and use said item, then go ahead and pack it.  If not, then ditch it.  You can sell it before moving (more on this later) and put the money towards a replacement in your new home.  

Going through everything is overwhelming, especially if you don't have a lot of time.  To make it more manageable, break it down by room.  Start with the easier rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms and work your way up to the harder ones like the kitchen and garage.  It's also best to work from the top of your house down, just like with cleaning.  

Designate an area for things you're getting rid of.  Bins or boxes labeled 'donate' and 'sell' are a great way to keep things organized.  Of course anything you're throwing away should go directly into the garbage bin outside...don't let it clutter up your house!  

Check back for more tips on moving and to see our progress!

Coming soon...

My sincerest apologies for the silence on this blog as of late.  It's been a busy holiday season and I have been without a laptop for much of it.  Just yesterday, my wonderful husband bought me a brand spanking new laptop and I'm so excited to put it to work with this blog!

I hope everyone put my post about holiday prep to good use and that it helped you have a stress-free holiday season!  Now that the new year has begun, I have some new goals for myself and I'll try to share my progress along the way.

Goal 1: Get organized.
We plan to move to a new home this year.  We're not 100% about the when or where...it will be in 6 months or less and we will either move across town or to Texas.  Everything depends on my husband's job and where they need him to be.  So in preparation for moving, I'm starting to purge and organize now so that moving will be as easy as possible.  I've started by weeding through my son's toys and clothes.  Anything broken went into the trash, things he's outgrown are getting passed down to his cousin, and anything else is getting donated.  I already have three large boxes of things out of his room alone!

Goal 2: Get healthy.
Last year, my husband and I started on this goal by eliminating junk food and in general making healthier choices.  Over the holidays we let a lot slide but we're ready to get back on the wagon.  We've decided to join a gym since now is usually the best time to do so because gyms tend to have specials in January.

Goal 3: Stop being wasteful.
Wastefulness really bugs me.  I hate throwing perfectly good things away.  You can ask my husband...I get really mad when I have to throw food out and I'm a bit of a pack rat with other things because I can't stand the idea of throwing something out and a month down the road needing it.  However, I'm also sick of having no spare storage space in our home due to all the stuff I'm hanging on to.  This kind of goes hand in hand with my first goal for this year...I do not want to purchase anything new that I'm not going to use.  No more impulse buys just because something is a good deal!  No more knick-knacks for the house...we have enough decor and really, with a toddler and three dogs, it's not a worthwhile investment.  So...more restraint when shopping and as far as food goes, I'm going to start cooking smarter.  This means cooking meals that will either be finished off the same night it's cooked or will make a meal that will definitely get eaten the next day!

Stop and Smell the Roses

Time to stop and smell the roses!  Or at least review them...the Rose Vox Box, that is!  That's right, Influenster gave me another box of free goodies to review and share with all of you!  This box came with a pretty awesome assortment of stuff!

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara
$5.99
The 60s are back in full swing with a thicker, fuller, wide-eyed look!  Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara brings you a bold, wide-eyed look, fanned out volume, and no clumps for lashes that are up, out, and over the top!



Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions
$12.49
Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions help keep feet warm and dry while providing all-day comfort.  Their multi-layer design helps insulate the foot while two plush layers provide extra cushioning.  Cozy Cushions help keep feet dry by absorbing perspiration and offer superior support on hard surfaces.



belVita crunchy Breakfast Biscuits
$3.69 for a box of 5 packets of 4 biscuits
belVita crunchy Breakfast Biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release steady energy that lasts all morning.  They're a good source of fiber and B-vitamins, contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per serving and taste great - perfect for on-the-go.



Kiss Gradation Polishes
$6.99
Give yourself a trendy gradation manicure in no time with Kiss Gradation Polishes.  Quick and easy to apply in three easy steps, you will end up with a mani filled with glitter and shine in no time.  Available at Walgreens.



Lindt LINDOR Milk Chocolate Truffles
$3.99 for a 5.1 oz. bag
Smooth, Melting, Luscious.  When you break the shell of a LINDOR truffle, the irresistible smooth filling starts to melt and so will you.  Available in 10 smooth, melting flavors.

Dr Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushion Review

In addition to the Kiss Gradation Nail Polish and Rimmel Retro Glam Mascara, I got a free set of Dr Scholl's for her Cozy Cushions in my Vox Box from Influenster.  This inserts are fuzzy and soft on your feet and I LOVE THEM!  You can trim them to fit your favorite pair of boots...perfect for the winter months!  I think they'd be perfect for the long hours you'll be on your feet while shopping for Christmas gifts.

Rimmel Retro Glam Mascara Review

Well, ladies and gents, Influenster has sent me another Vox Box and you know what that means...product reviews!  I'll create a comprehensive post later, but right now I'm going to tell you about just one of the cool products they sent me.  Did I mention it was free?  If you want to get free goodies too, just ask and I'll send you an invite to Influenster!


The first product on my review list is Rimmel's Retro Glam Mascara.  In a fat black tube, it doesn't look like anything special...then you pull out the wand and it's got this interesting hourglass-like brush.  I'll admit, at first that brush threw me for a loop.  I'm used to straight brushes or even a few curved, but this one is the first I've used like that.  Stick with it though, I promise it will pay off.

As far as the formula goes, I really like it.  And you know that I would tell you if I felt otherwise.  It clings to my fine lashes really well and helps to pump them up and make them look longer without looking goopy...and no one wants goopy eyelashes!

I would recommend using this mascara with the aid of an eyelash curler for maximum effect.  If you're going out, pair it with a smoky eye or, for a less dramatic daytime look, just top your lids with a sheer neutral shadow and give your lashes a quick swipe with this mascara...either way your lashes will look their best!

Tiny Hands in the Kitchen

Toddlers are famous for their 'monkey see, monkey do,' behavior.  They love doing all the things they see mommy and daddy doing...whether we'd like them to or not!  My son watches me cook all the time and it's a struggle to keep him out of the kitchen.  So every once and a while, I bring him into the kitchen for an Ayden-friendly recipe.

When bringing a little one into the kitchen, preparation is key.  Pick a space and clear the area.  I have a small section of counter over the dishwasher that's next to the sink that I use for Ayden.  There are no rugs beneath and I keep everything on the counter off or out of reach.  I gather all that I need and have it ready to go before bringing him in. I also have a washcloth and a clean set of play clothes at the ready for when we're done!

This time, we made sugar free strawberry jello with real strawberries.  I handled the hot water and Ayden did all the stirring.  I thawed and chopped the strawberries ahead of time and he got to add them into the jello.  There was lots of sampling with the strawberries, so make sure you have extra!  Little ones are more likely to eat the finished product if they're familiar with all the ingredients, so it's good for them to taste the pieces as it's coming together.

Stirring like a pro!

I only used about half the bag of strawberries for this one.

As an added bonus, I made these in individual cups so it's quick and easy to pull out later!

There's no real recipe here...just follow the package instructions on the jello box and toss in your desired amount of fruit...you can't really  have too much fruit, in my opinion.  We just had so much fun with this, I thought I'd share!

If you enjoyed this post and want to see more ways to have fun with your little ones, check out this post.

Low Carb Creme Brulee

There is something so indulgent about the silky smooth goodness that is creme brulee.  It's one of my favorite desserts to order when we're out and not as tricky to make at home as you might think.  I have had this recipe for a low carb creme brulee for as long as I can remember and it's super easy.  If you're in Induction, you can leave off the crunchy, sugary topping and still enjoy the rich custard.

Ingredients:
6 egg yolks
1/4 cup Splenda
2 cups heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp granulated sugar (optional)

1.  In a mixing bowl, beat together the egg yolks and Splenda together until well blended.

2.  Slowing add the cream and vanilla, mixing as you go.  Mix well until it begins to froth.

3.  Pour into small ramekins and place in a large baking dish.

4.  Carefully pour water into the baking dish...be careful not to get any into the ramekins.  Fill to about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

5.  Bake for 1 hour at 325 until centers are just set.  Remove carefully from the baking dish and let cool.

6.  Lightly sprinkle sugar over the tops of the custards.*  If you have a butane torch, carefully caramelize the sugar...try to get it golden brown but not black.  If you do not have a torch, place the ramekins under the broiler on high and watch them closely and remove when done.

*If you want to cut back further on carbs, omit this step and enjoy the custard as-is.  2 tsp. of sugar has approximately 8 carbs.  The servings will vary based on the size of your ramekins.

For an added treat, you can top this with sugar free fruit preserves or whole berries...just be aware that this elevates the carb count, so portion control is key.