{Jessica's Favourite}: Almost-End-of-Winter Products

You guys.  We're almost there.  Like so close to the first day of spring.

 

Not that that means anything in this northern frozen wasteland.  We're lucky if spring even begins to peek through for May long weekend.  Sigh.  I digress.  Nothing we can do about the weather right?

 

However - there is something else I can do about this time of year!  I can test and try new products that will help me get through these last few weeks!  I feel like this is winter's "teenage awkward years" phase.. it doesn't know if it wants to be a kid (which is winter around Christmas time) or blossom into the beautiful young adult it's always been destined to be.  (Blossom.  Spring.  You see what I did there? Eh? Eh?) Ahem. So clever. Not.

 

ANYWAY.  As I was saying.  Awkward time of year.  The stores are overflowing spring and summer goodies which makes me so happy but at the same time I'm like "I can't burn a Tiki Beach candle when there's a million feet of snow on the ground still.  I just can't."  So I'm still burning Snow Day which is super depressing but if the shoe fits...... 

 

So that brings me to my next point.  I've been searching the stores for some cool products and goodies to get me through to the "real deal spring."  They can't be too springy/summery but they have to have a hint of some sunshiney goodness that is to come.  Haha. I'm seriously so lame.  Whatever.  These little treasure hunts have helped get me through February so yay to that!  Ok, enough rambling.  Here are my faves!

 

 

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub and Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia. 
This lip scrub is unreal.  It smells like  kettle corn and does a dang good job of getting gross dead winter skin off my lips.  I probably use this at  least 3 times a week, usually when I wash my face in the evening.  Once the scrub is rinsed off, I use this lip butter.  It's super thick and moisturizing, which is good to have on the lips overnight.  Cuz who doesn't love to wake up with soft and smooth lips? 

 

I bought this thinking it was a face mask as I'm almost out of my green clay mask which I just love.  However, it's not a mask.  It's a scrub.  See the bold green lettering that says "GREEN TEA SCRUB?"  Ya.  It's a scrub.  Anyway!  It was a happy mistake and I've been loving it!  I actually foams up quite nicely and I've been using it mostly in the evenings, about 4 times a week.   

 

This is the dreamiest smelling body wash ever.  It's basically pistachio ice cream turned into a body wash with a splash of light floral.  It's delicious and all I can say is go buy it and you will thank me later.  (The scent is called Pistachio Cream Magnolia)

 

This is Herbal Essences Honey, I'm Strong, a rinse off hair treatment and I love it.  I use it after my conditioner, not a replacement.  (I found that out the hard way.. haha).  I use it about 2 times a week and it makes my hair incredibly soft.  Which, let's be honest, is a small miracle in itself during bone-dry-zero-moisture-in-the-air prairie winters.  To use, I take a couple generous scoopfuls, work through my hair focusing on the ends.  I then wrap up my hair in a bun and secure with a butterfly clip. I let it sit for about 2 minutes, then rinse out and viola! Silky smooth hair!

 

Brazil Nut Body Shop Body Butter.  These body butters are legends and need no introduction.  However, I will say this.  I am falling in love all over again with The Body Shop.  It was my favourite store in middle school and high school but after that I just kind of stopped shopping there for whatever reason, I don't know.  But I've had a couple good window shops there the last couple times I've been to the mall and I am swooning over all things Body Shop again.  Sorry I left you.  It won't happen again. :)

 

And ta-da!  The whole gang, all together in one photo!  I love them all and they have been making these last winter days a little more bearable.  So thanks, frivolous little goodies.. you're the best! :)

 

This post was actually super fun for me and I'm thinking about doing a spring one.  Let me know if you guys would like that or find these utterly boring.  I personally love product reviews and seeing what goodies other people like, but I know it's not up everyone's alley.  :)  Anyway, I hope January and February have treated you well and didn't make you want to pull your hair out too much.  Some days (and weeks) were pretty rough for me, but the light is at the end of tunnel and I'm really, really looking forward to spring.  Have a wonderful March, everyone and we'll see you again soon!

 

xo ~ Jessica  

{Jessica Looks Forward}: To Twenty Fourteen

Happy second last day of 2013!! Can you even believe it? I cannot. But I have to because the calendar says so. I can't argue with a calendar.

 

2013 was a great year.  It had its moments (let's be honest, what year doesn't?) but overall it was great! I ran three races (a 5km fun run, a 6km mud run and my very first half marathon), I settled into my job (which I love and am thriving at), we got unpacked a bit more and our new-to-us house feels more like a home, we (3/4) finished our garage, landscaped our backyard (well, we laid sod), enjoyed a rich convention in the summer (that we got to share with Tyler's NL siblings!), I turned 30 (!!!!), we had a getaway to the mountains over Thanksgiving (also got a visit from my sweet mother-in-law then too), stayed in Roman theme room at West Ed (first time for this Albertan, what?!), enjoyed a December full of friends and family and food, Tyler turned 30 and now, whew, here we are!

 

It was also the year of my accident back in April (boo) and Bronze tore her ACL in her back left knee in the summer (and now walks with a bit of a limp, boo) and other little numerous day-to-day setbacks and letdowns, but you know what, it can't be all sunshine right? I am grateful for every little thing that came along this past year that made me feel my need of God. I am grateful for the people in my life that help lift me up and turn my eyes to Jesus. And because of that, even the dark spots are blessings in disguise. Our God is an awesome God.

Another cool that happened this year was Tyler and a business partner (Bryson) opened a nutrition and supplement store!  I guess by default I'm lumped into it too and I do have a small role (taking care of social media), but mainly it's been Tyler and Bryson's baby!  It's been fun (and at times a little stressful!) to watch it all come together.  We have opened the doors to our little shop, but our big grand opening event will be in January sometime, so we have that to look forward to!  2014 should be an exciting year for Bond Nutrition!

So here we are at the end... the end of this blog post and the end of this year.  So I'm going to sign off with a list of clear intentions for 2014.  I found this list on Pinterest and I really liked it, so I thought I would share it here.  I would love to hear your goals for this year, too!  Let me know in the comments (using this same list if you wish) what they are!
I was going to say "I hope your 2013 was great and all the best in 2014", but really it doesn't matter what 2013 was like.  In 2 days, every human being on the planet gets a fresh start and I just love that thought.  So no matter how wonderful or how awful your year was, you get a fresh start in 2 days to make this your best year yet!  Now how awesome is that?! :)

A BAD HABIT I'M  GOING TO BREAK:
* no going to bed with my phone (no late night Pinterest scrolling or Facebook stalking)
* how: I'm going to make a designated charging station at my desk and buy an alarm clock for my bedside table, plus no technology after 9:30pm

A NEW SKILL I'D LIKE TO LEARN:
* some yoga skillz
* how: I've already registered for one month of hot yoga!  We'll see how it goes!

A PERSON I HOPE TO BE MORE LIKE:
* Christ
* how: studying about him, reading about him, spending time in prayer with him and being around people who are trying to be like him

A GOOD DEED I'M GOING TO DO:
* good ol' fashion casserole delivery to those who need it (a family/person a month is the goal)
* how: schedule it into my calendar and just do it.

A PLACE I'D LIKE TO VISIT:
* Victoria, BC (still haven't been!)
* how: book a weekend and do it

A BOOK I'D LIKE TO READ:
* still researching this one out....

A LETTER I'M GOING TO WRITE:
* to my cousin Jason who is in Slovaki, as often as I can
*how: I might designate Sunday afternoon or evening once a month to write him

A NEW FOOD I'M GOING TO TRY:
* eggplant!  Lots of different ways!
*how: trial and error baby, trial and error

I'M  GOING TO BE BETTER AT:
* letting go of having to control ev.er.y.thing.  Sometimes a girl just has to chill out.
* how: practice, practice, practice.  Let go and let God.

That about wraps things up for 2013! Oh yes, one more thing.. my theme for 2014 is gratitude.  I just want to have a thankful spirit coming from my life in regards to the people in it, the experiences I go through (good or bad) and all the blessings I know (naturally and especially spiritually).  That's a tall order, but it's about little daily choices that will help stick to this theme all year!

Happy New Year to you all, my dear friends and family (near and far)!  I love you all and here's to making 2014 the best ever!

See ya next year!

~Jessica
xo


{Jessica Is Tagged}: The Sweater Weather Tag

Since I'm on such a blogging roll, let's keep that train rolling, shall we?

 

Do you guys go on YouTube?  I do.  And I stumble upon the most random things.  For instance, the Sweater Weather tag.  Now random becomes awesome.  Best tag ever!!  Basically, it's 15 questions about the fall season and because I love fall, I kinda fell into this rabbit hole of people doing this tag on YouTube.  Many minutes were wasted.  Many.

 

So here's me jumping on the bandwagon and I'm doing this tag on my blog.  Hope it doesn't get too wordy... I'm not making any promises.

 

PS We have more snow right now than we had all last winter, so it feels like we are in the middle of January, but technically it's still fall.  So if a few wintery things end up in the mix, you can't blame me.  Blame the snow.  The giant massive drifts that are everywhere.

 

 

#1.  What's your favourite fall candle scent?

 

I officially put all my fall candle's away, but my favourite scent this year was Autumn Day from Bath & Body Works.  It's very subtle and soft and warm and just mmmmmm... it's fall in a jar.  Do you guys like my description? I  bet you know exactly what it smells like. :)  (Right now I'm burning Snow Day (also from Bath & Body Works) because it matches the snow outside.  It smells like peppermint at first, but then you get a soft smell of vanilla to round it out... it is loverly!  There, is that better? haha)

 

#2.  Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?

 

Tim's steeped tea with milk.  All the way.  And every now and then, a specialty sugary latte from Starbucks.

 

#3.  Favourite fall memory?

 

All my birthdays. haha.  But seriously, it really is my best memory.  I remember birthday parties at my aunty's place down by the river or at Rotary Park and making giant piles of leaves and jumping in them.. trips to the corn maze, crispy cool walks around Bower Ponds, spice cake and rosy cheeks.  It's the best having a birthday in the fall.

 

#4.  Which fall make-up trend: winged eye liner or a dark lip?

 

Oh you know me... it'd be so hard chose!  That was sarcasm by the way.  No makeup for this girl but I did find this nice berry coloured lip gloss I've been loving. 

 

#5.  Favourite fall fragrance?

 

For the home, it would be Leaves room spray from Bath & Body Works.  For myself, it would Beyond Sexy body spray and body wash from La Senza.  It's a warm Japanese cherry blossom scent and just smells so yummy!  I bought the lotion too, but it's way too strong so I don't wear that very often.  Terrible name though.. seriously La Senza, step your name game up! :)

 

#6.  Favourite Thanksgiving food?

 

Can I do top three?  haha.. Stuffing, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top & cranberry sauce.  Yes, cranberry sauce is it's own food. :)

 

#7.  What's the autumn weather like where you live?

 

HA!  Terrible, thanks for asking!  Well, previous to the beginning of November, it was pretty sweet.   Warm days, cool evenings, amazing sunsets and just the smell of autumn in the air...  Then November hit and mother nature said "Enough of that!  Here's a boat load of snow!"  So here we sit in 50+ cm of snow, no joke and it's still another month until the official first day of winter.  Brutal.  But whatever.  I'm not bitter.

 

#8.  Most worn sweater?

 

This fall, it would be my new one from a cute little shop downtown (birthday gift card courtesy of my awesome sister-in-law). The sweater is neon pinky-orange and it's knit and it's just amazing.  I wear it everywhere: work with a pencil skirt and on the weekends with leggings.  It's so soft and just everything a sweater should be.

 

#9.  Favourite nail polish for fall?

 

If I keep my nails trimmed and filed and not looking like a hot mess, I'm happy.  I like a sheer nude colour every now and then for special occasions, but other than that, it's natural for this girl 99% of the time.  I really need to do a better job of taking care of my nails for real though.  I feel like that's a very adult thing to do.

 

#10.  Football game or jumping in a big pile of leaves?

 

Honestly, some of my best high school memories are going to football games.  Taking blankets to the game and sipping hot chocolate while we watched the boys play...  We thought we were the big leagues then and everything was so exciting.  I also have wonderful memories of jumping in leaves piles too, so I would have to say it's a tie on this one. 

 

#11.  Leggings or skinny jeans?

 

Leggings.  Absolutely no competition there.

 

#12.  Combat boots or Uggs?

 

I love me my combat boots.

 

#13.  Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?

 

You guys.  This is going to kill me to say this, but my answer is NO.  I was so excited for the pumpkin spice lattes to come out this year and I couldn't wait to order my first one.  But what a letdown!!  I don't know if they changed their syrup or what, but the Starbucks one was awful!  It was too sweet and had this horrible aftertaste.  Anyway.. in that regards, no.  But I do love pumpkin spice in other things like baking, candles, etc so in that regard, yes.  It's a wonderful scent to bring in fall!

 

#14.  Favourite fall TV shows?

 

I don't watch TV so I wouldn't even begin to know how to answer this.  Do you guys have any favourite shows?

 

#!5.  The song that gets you in the fall spirit?

 

I like moodier, darker, slower, softer songs as the days get shorter and cooler... One of my faves has been a love song from Sara Bareilles called I Choose You.  It's soft and sweet without being sickly and I basically had it on repeat all of September.  I've also been rediscovering the Tragically Hip and flip, they're so good! 

 

 

So that is the Sweater Weather tag!  I tag Ashley from a Prairie Fairy-tale, Leeann from enjoi-d, Andrea from Us to You, Tara from Life, Love & an English Setter and everyone else!  Have a cozy night!

 

Until next time ~ Jessica

xo

{Jessica Shares}: Baker Family Pictures 2013



Well, these are long overdue.  Not in regards to me posting them to my blog (I'm surprisingly on time with that! haha) but rather, in regards to getting these done AT ALL.  It's been 9 1/2 years (since our wedding day!) since we got Baker family pictures done and well, what can I say?  It was an awesome day.. we ended up spending the whole day together, all of us.  It was a blustery, snowy day but we braved the elements for about 40 minutes (with ample "warm up" breaks) and ended up getting some really fun shots. 

 

After the photo shoot, us girls bustled about the kitchen and cooked up a "Christmas Eve spread" as I like to call it.. finger foods, fresh fruit and veggies, chips, nuts and other little nibbly's.    Then we relaxed and played some living room hockey and dad made his famous chocolate chip cookies.. It was the most wonderful day and I'm so grateful we were able to capture a little of that day on camera. 

 

So without anymore rambling, here are a few from the shoot!  If you're in the central Alberta area, I would most definitely recommend Twitchy Finger Photography..  Becka & Bryan are so great!

 

Aunty and Miss Ella Bella

home sweet home

I think it's safe to say granny and grandpa love these little ones... :)

Bryon & Brianna

all smiles!

daddy + daughter = total cuteness

hee hee

what a sweetie!

it's always a little more fun off the beaten path....

Ryler in his glory :)

a little aunty and uncle time :)

so snowy!

always time for kisses

my beautiful parents

love them!

a blanket and in daddy's arms is the warmest place to be :)

pretty sure this one is going on a canvas :)

one of my favourites!

big smiles!

a little more grey in the hair since the wedding photos... :)  and we don't mind one bit!

love

clearly the height was not evenly distributed. at all.

a perfect capture :)

time marches on.....

so fun!

cuties

another fave

annnnd just to top it all off, I make my dear husband run through the snow just to make sure we're good and soaked by the end of it all :)

 

These photos are so special to me... I think oftentimes there is more to a photo than what meets the eye. It goes for any family photo.. the experiences, the memories, the laughs, the tears, the sorrows, all of it - is what makes a family.  And at the end of the day, the most important part is that we are there for each other.  We travel, we leave home, we come back again and then do it all over again.  But this snowy November afternoon we were all together and my heart is so grateful a little of that day is frozen in time in these photos.

 

I hope you guys enjoyed them too! 

 

 

Until next time ~ stay cozy!

xo Jessica

{Jessica Crafts}: A Command Centre

What is about this time of year and the anticipation of fall that just brings out the organizational guru (ha! Let's not push it, Jessica....) in me? I strongly believe it's the 'back to school mentality' and I still get the itch to sharpen some No. 2 pencils and line up my pens and rulers and markers in a straight line on my desk.

 

However, now that I'm an adult (say whaaaa?) and way past school (12 years ago this past May! Ack!) I'm always scheming new ways to put my 'back to school mode' to good use in my home and life. And by scheming I mean 'scouring Pinterest.'. Just keepin' it real. :) Good gravy, I love that site.

 

Enter:  The Command Centre:

A one-stop-shop to make me feel like I'm more in control of my life than I actually am. Haha.. just kidding.. kinda.. :)

 

Basically I just wanted a system to house the two things I struggle at keeping organized and on top of the most: housecleaning and menu planning

 

Let the research begin... can I say for the record that this is my kind of research? Pinterest, a cup of tea and a whole evening... Yes. Please.

Couldn't find exactly what I was looking for, so I stole bits and pieces from each of the ones I liked and started drafting my own..  

 

Measuring and list making

Supplies bought and now to figure out arrangements! PS I love my CRAP list. So much.

 

My supplies included a magnetic white board, 2 medium sized clips, 2 4x6 white frames (all from WalMart), cardstock pockets (pre-made... I got mine at Michaels), little patterned note cards (Michaels) , a lined notepad (with a magnet already! Whoot! Also from Michaels..) and my CRAP notepad (a splurge from Chapters).  I also got loads of magnets, big and small and some super glue from Michaels. I'm not sure why I was so bent on having it hang on the fridge... its working ok for now, but I may move it to a more stable spot on the wall eventually. 



Cutest little cards ever..

Layout determined and stickies to prove it :)

 

The gluing of magnets begins

Oh these polka dot pockets!

So. many. magnets.

Love it so far!

I took some of my scrapbooking paper and used it as a mat for my 'daily cleaning list' frame and 'additional daily chore' frame (more on that below).

So. Many. Magnets.

Its not falling off so I guess the magnets are working!

The final result! And I just love love love it!

 

Ok, so here is the breakdown of my board and what I wanted it to do for me.  It's been about 3 weeks of using my new system and I need to make some tweaks to a few little details, but overall its working very very well!  



First and foremost, the main thing I wanted to keep track of on this board is my daily cleaning. Although I should really call it '4 days a week' cleaning because I have decided that these tasks are only going to be done on the days I work, which are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  My days off  (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays) are full enough and we're only 2 people... we don't create that much mess! I am trying to get in the habit of setting the timer for 20 minutes when I get home from work and just giv'er and get them done. My 6 daily tasks are make the bed, general kitchen clean up/dishes (this one usually doesn't get done in my 20 minute cleaning spree as it's an ongoing thing through the day), 1 load of laundry (this definitely doesn't happen daily, but I at least try to take stock of where I am in my laundry world), swifter/sweep the main traffic areas (basically wherever there is laminate.. kitchen, front entry, back entry, bedroom and eating area), wipe down bathroom counters (and wherever else hairspray hits.. haha) and lastly, cleaning the bathroom floors of my hairs (#1 cause of dissention in our marriage.. haha).  Tyler and I actually brainstormed together about what the most important daily cleaning chores are for our life and household and this is what we come up with. Guess who come up the 'clean the bathroom floors' task? ;)

The second frame I have on my board is for 1 additional daily chore.  This is where some adjustments are going to made. Monday, Tuesday and Friday are fine, but Wednesday and Thursday need some tweaking. Wednesday's chores are menu plan, wash bed linens, full bathroom clean, grocery shop, other errands and pay bills. That, my friends, is a full day. I thought I could get all that done in the morning and then relax in the afternoon, but nope, no way. These tasks take me right to supper with about zero down time, so something is going to need to change.  The point of this board is to make my cleaning more efficient so it feels like I'm doing less of it, but instead I feel like (on Wednesday) that's all I'm doing is cleaning. Anyway, I'll have to check back in on this one because I'm not too sure how I'm going to arrange my precious one day off a week, but I'm sure I'll think of something.. :) Thursday (which is iron 3 items {my ironing basket is overflowing. I need a better system} and hand wash any necessary items) was one of those days that I thought I would love (because I love laundry, ironing and all things related to caring for my clothes) but in the scheme of my week, Thursday is a nutty day at work and plus I have bootcamp that evening and bahhhhhh - its just kind of insanity all around. So, ya. That's Thursday.  Friday is vacuuming the whole main level.. which is actually not that much space.  I'm usually done in about 25 minutes and that includes our sectional couch and chair in the living room.  What also helps - we still have boxes and tubs covering a good portion of floor space in the dining room and also a little in the living room.. haha.  What can I say; we like to unpack slowly. :) I like vacuuming on Friday because if we are going to have company, it will most likely be on the weekend, so a nice clean floor and a couch minus dog hair are sure fire ways to make sure our friends come back to visit us again.  So to wrap up this novel, I basically don't really know what's going on with my "additional chore" board quite yet, but I'm getting there.  And I feel much more in control of my cleaning than I did yesterday. :) 

 

The note card pockets are probably my most favourite part of the whole board.  Mostly because they're pretty, but also because their functional.  I guess I have to give function some credit.. although it's BORing. :) The three that I have on my board are for fun stuff (date night & spa night ideas), coupon storage & Saturday chores (more on that below).  I love actually having date night ideas written on a card.  That way both Tyler and I can contribute ideas and the way that we've worked the system so far is we fan them out like a deck of playing cards and we randomly pick one and voila - that's date night!  And it's a nice visual reminder that we should take date nights.. life gets busy - you know the drill.  I think we all know the value of taking breathers and just having a fun night with your friends or significant other. :)   

The cheery yellow, blue and red notepad is my menu plan..  It's gotta be cheery, because let's face it - I do not like menu planning.  It's this art of getting the perfect balance of time management (unless I have a whole day to prepare for a dinner party, it needs to be fast for me!), flavour, healthy-ness and not the same-ol-same-ol all the time.  Whew!  That's tough!  Oh, and of course, making sure it's something everyone loves... oh the joys of a picky husband!  Anyway, it just seems to be one of those things where practise makes perfect, so I guess I'll just keep plugging along!  (I should give a big shout out to Pinterest for being a massive inspiration to my meals! Thanks, P!)

This section is two-fold.  The top row is my Saturday chore for that week and then extra Saturday chores are stored in the red polka dot pocket.  The row below is coupon storage in the brown polka dot pocket and the note card clipped in place holds a blank card that I write down little things that come to me during the day or week that maybe I'd like to get done on my Wednesday off or on the weekend (for example: drop off dry cleaning or tailoring, get dog food, wash car, etc, etc).  Each week a fresh note card gets put in place for whatever little things/errands/chores might pop up that I don't want to forget.

Ok, my Saturday chore pocket!  I love this pocket, I really do!  I started writing down ideas that I thought would good little (or big) tasks to do on a Saturday.  I didn't want them to take more than an hour and I really wanted a sense of accomplishment when I finished said task.  These task are on little note cards with all the details of what the chore entails.  I have things like "deep clean kitchen", "change out seasonal wardrobe", "wash and windex all windows inside", "help Tyler with yard work or snow clearing", "file bills and organize stacks of paper around the house", etc, etc stored in this pouch.  I like plan my Saturday chore a week in advance and I will usually consult Tyler to see if he might need my help with anything (like yard work.. that's his baby, but sometimes it's nice to get out and get some dirt under the fingernails). :) This is usually my only household task to do on Saturdays and it's nice because it doesn't take up my whole day and I still have time to go do something fun like browse Target, take a walk, hang out with Tyler, blog, craft, etc.  Plus it still feels like I accomplished something so no guilt either!   

And just one final over shot of my baby!  I loved creating this project, start to finish!  This is seriously what I love about fall... establishing a good routine that works for everyone and encompasses a bit of fun and bit of work. 

So that wraps up my Command Centre board and how it came into existence!  Life is an evolving thing and things are always getting tweaked here and there to find just the right balance.  What about you guys?  What do you do to organize your household?  I can imagine that having little ones would add a whole new dimension!  A fun one though!  :) Laundry would probably increase pretty significantly.. haha..  Let me know if you have any additional suggestions for my board (or a more efficient way to run it) or what you do!

Until next time!

xo ~ Jessca