High Five For Friday- 26.06.15

It is Friday!  We are supposed to be having lunch with my husband's grandmother right now, but Miss. E developed a chest infection and we had to stay home.  Hubby left early this morning to visit his family and Miss. E and I are going to have a quiet weekend at home.  Here are my five:

1.)  I am thankful for doctors who will squeeze you in last minute.  Miss. E's doctor got her in when I called with my concerns.  She was so kind about it and reassured me.  I am appreciative of my access to health care and the medications that Miss. E needs.

2.)  Miss. E is doing better.  She is no longer fevered, her breathing sounds (mostly) normal, she is more alert and she is eating again.  Those few days were scary, so I am happy to see my little girl acting more like herself.

3.)  I worked one day this week.  I was supposed to work two, but I took the one off to stay home with Miss. E.  The work day went well and it was nice to use some of my skills again.

4.)  My parents came over to help me this week and I so appreciated it.  They vacuumed my house (my vacuum is broken so they brought their Dyson), watered flowers and bought me lunch.  Yay for parents!  I am very lucky.

5.)  I have read three books in the past few weeks and it reminds me that I need to keep up with my reading!  I have always been a major bookworm, but with my new(ish) role of Mom, I don't always get to read.  I really enjoyed the last book I read.  It was Married 'til Monday by Denise Hunter.  She is one of my favourite authors.  I also read Irene Hannon's book Buried Secrets.  It was great!

If you want to join in or if you want to read some more "High Five For Friday" posts check out the link up below!  Have a great weekend!

Wardrobe Wednesday- 24.06.2015

I have two outfits for you today.  I have decided to try and photograph my outfits as I wear them.  Miss. E isn't feeling better.  She has developed a chest infection and I have been hanging out with her in sweats at home.  I also worked a day in the past week so I didn't wear anything from my capsule that day.  I am hoping to have a few outfits to show you each week, so that I can hit upon all of my capsule wardrobe outfits.  I apologize for the photography, but I am trying to do it on my own.  I am definitely in the process of learning!

Here are the outfits:

I wore this outfit for Father's Day.  Hubby, Miss. E, and I attended a pancake breakfast.  It was nice!  By some miracle, the pants stayed clean.  White pants and syrup- it could have been dangerous!  

In this photo, you can clearly see the aftermath of Miss. E and my unmade bed.  I try to make it every day, but it usually only happens in the afternoon.  The outfit was worn to run errands earlier this week when Miss. E was still feeling pretty good.  I acknowledge that my legs are so white that they glow, but there is a family history of skin cancer, so I avoid getting any sort of tan.  I bought some self tanner but I haven't had a chance to try it out.

Happy Wednesday!  I would love to see your outfits!  I am on Instagram @peacefulsimplelifeblog and I am on twitter @peacefulsimple.  Tweet me your outfits and use the #wardrobewednesday.

Tuesday Talk- Handing It on Up...

Hi Everyone!  I am doing my first link up with Tuesday Talk.  I have decided to share how I deal with my worry and how I find peace.  The answer is simple, yet sometimes hard to do.  I hand it on up to much more capable Hands.

A couple of years ago, Hubby and I were still in the throes of our infertility struggle.  I felt despair, jealousy, bitterness and anxiety taking over my life.  I could not understand why we couldn't get pregnant.  I had done everything "right".  I was eating well and exercising.  I had a career in place and so did my Hubby.  We had a house and we were stable.  It was the right time, yet things weren't working.

I have always been a Type A personality.  I wanted to control everything.  If I just did this, then this would happen.  If I did this, then that would happen.  I lived comfortably in a world of cause and effect.  I knew how to achieve what I wanted, until I couldn't.

Infertility brought me to my breaking point.  I was avoiding friends because they were pregnant.  I avoided Facebook because that was a mine field of baby pictures and pregnancy announcements.  I cried at holidays and I was miserable.

One night I was sitting alone on my bed and I was in tears.  I cried and cried until I couldn't cry anymore.  I was asking God "Why?" and "What did I do wrong?" over and over.  I was depressed and out of hope.  At that moment it dawned on me that I was approaching my prayers all wrong.  Life isn't fair.  God is a source of strength, hope and guidance.  He is not my personal butler.  I don't get to demand the kind of life that I think I should have.  Instead, I need to lean on Him and know that whatever will be, will be.  I have His love and strength to get me through.

I remember saying "I can't do this anymore.  This pain is too much for me.  I am giving it to You."  God can handle our pain, our disappointment and our struggles.  When life is too much, we can lean on Him and know that He will help us shoulder the storm.  It may sound corny but I had a strange sense of peace after that.  We didn't conceive for several months after this "revelation", but they were some of the most peaceful months of my life.  I focused on my relationship with God and my relationship with my husband.  I felt more content and I was a better partner to my husband.

I now know that when things were too much I can just hand it on up and I don't need to worry anymore.  Every time I feel anxiety creeping in, I just remind myself that I am not in charge of that pain anymore.  Taking back any of that anxiety would be a mistake because I will never be more capable than God is at handling my pain.

I still fight my Type A personality.  Handing up my worry and pain is still something that I have to pray about daily.  I do have to say that I have a sense of peace and calm more often than not.  When I don't, I pray.

I am linking up with the lovely hosts of Tuesday Talk today.  Be sure to click on the link above and check out some of the great posts!

High Five For Friday- 19.06.15

Hello!  I can't believe it is Friday.  The past couple of weeks have been an absolute blur.  I am happy to be able to do High Five For Friday and to focus on all of the good that has happened in the last week.   Here are my five:

1.)  My amazing Hubby is done school!  He passed his exams and is all finished.  I am so super happy and proud of him!  He worked very hard and has done a wonderful job. He is an awesome man.  Love you, honey!

2.)  Miss. E finally seems to be recovered from her cold.  It took about 3 weeks.  Thank you all for your sweet thoughts.  We appreciate it.

3.)  On Monday, I got to go to the city by myself and I found the vest I have been looking for!  I love it!  You can see it here.

4.)  I had an orientation day at work because I am working two days next week.  A few things have changed since I worked over a year ago, so I got all trained up on the new equipment.  I actually had a really nice time.

5.)  I ran into an a friend between appointments on Monday.  It was such a pleasant, unexpected surprise!  I had such a nice conversation with her (although it was cut short, due to the tech calling me in for my appointment).  We made plans to get together when I am in the city again.

All in all, the week went well.  Maybe I will share my stressing out in another post.  Let's just say that I have had two weeks filled with "Mommy Guilt".  Things are better.  Much better.

If you would like to join in H54F, link up with the lovely ladies below!  Have a wonderful weekend!

One Last Addition! Wardrobe Wednesday 17.6.15

I was in the city by myself on Monday and I popped by the mall in between appointments to look around.  Much to my surprise they had added a new lingerie store and a few other stores.  I was quick to snap up two new (non-nursing!) bras.  Clothes fit better with the correct underpinnings!  I got sized by one of the store clerks and I was happy to find out that my bra size was relatively the same.  After a pregnancy and nursing for a year, I wasn't sure that would be the case.

Anyway!  After I had bought the new bras, I waltzed by Ricki's and what did I see?  The military inspired utility vest that I have been seeking for about 6  months.  Honestly!  You wouldn't think that they would be hard to find, but apparently they are!  Perhaps it was just the wrong season?

I had decided that I would purchase the vest whenever I found it and if it made sense, add it to the capsule that I was currently in.  That is exactly what happened.  I made the purchase and it is nestled in my closet with my other Summer Capsule Wardrobe pieces.

I decided that I wanted this versatile piece when I saw all the ways it could add style to my wardrobe.  I think that it is a piece that can be worn in any season and I like to use military olive as a neutral.  I can't think of a colour that it clashes with!  My inspiration for styling this piece came from Audrey's blog, Putting Me Together.  She calls this vest a completer piece and she uses hers quite often.  I highly recommend this blog to anyone who is looking to build on their style or completely rework their closet!  I have found some great resources on her blog.  Audrey doesn't normally do capsule wardrobes, but her tips and tricks can really help you build a good capsule wardrobe, because she strives for items that work in many ways!

Here is the vest!  Happy Wednesday!

Summer Capsule Wardrobe Reveal

Ahhh... Summer.  It is music to this Canadian's ears.  Winter seems to last FOREVER and I welcome the heat, sunshine and the beauty that Summer brings.  Summer gets quite hot during the days here, but the nights are still cool.  I planned my wardrobe around my most common activities (being a Mom and chasing a toddler).  Here it is!

BOTTOMS:



Forever 21 (old), Joe Fresh (old)

Forever 21 (old), Ricki's (old)

Old Navy (old),  Reitmans (old)

 

Winners (new!),  Old Navy (old)

Both are Joe Fresh (old)

TOPS:

Me To We Style (new!),  Old Navy (old)

Joe Fresh (old),  Winners (old)



Forever 21 (old),  Ricki's (old)



Joe Fresh (old), Warehouse One (old)



Joe Fresh (old),  Me to We Style (new!)



Both are Me to We Style (new!)



Reitmans (old),  Joe Fresh (old)



Both are Me to We Style (old)

DRESSES:



Body Politic (new), Me to We Style (new)



Gift from Hawaii (old),  Sirens (old)



Old Navy (old)

MISSING:  Red and White Hawaiian Dress that used to belong to my Mom.  It is currently being tailored and I haven't got it back yet!

JACKETS AND SHOES:



Hudson\s Bay Company (old), Aritzia (old)



Eclipse (old)

 

Toms (new!), Mark's (old!)



From Top:  Gift (old), Ardene (old), Joe Fresh (old)

That is 10 bottoms, 16 tops, 6 dresses, 3 jackets and 5 pairs of shoes.  I have a total of 40 items in my Capsule Wardrobe.  I am excited to wear all of my pieces!  I feel like this wardrobe fits my lifestyle, while looking put together.  I am excited to make outfits and show you a few of them on Wardrobe Wednesdays.

Small break...

Hi!  My daughter is not feeling well right now, so I am taking a little break until she is better.  I hope to be back next week with my Summer Capsule Wardrobe reveal. See you soon!

Simple- Baby Food

My daughter eats a lot.  I am not kidding.  I think she eats almost as much as me and I eat a lot.  Her appetite and possible allergies have made lunch meals kind of difficult.  She basically eats what we eat for supper, but lunches are more difficult.  She is still too young to eat salad and she can't have most sandwich items at this time (allergy stuff again).  I don't usually feed Miss. E bought baby food, as it makes our job with cloth diapering a lot more difficult.  (That was seriously the most tactful way I could think to put it.)  I have begun making parts of meals ahead and freezing them.  That way I can pull out a meal the night before and lunch is ready for the next day.  

My basic process is to boil sweet potatoes, make applesauce and cook extra meat a few nights in a row.  I then mash the potatoes and grind up the meat to make the portions easy to freeze.  Super easy, eh?  (That's the Canadian in me coming out!)  Here is my baby food breakdown:

Sweet Potatoes

I wash, peel and dice the sweet potatoes.  I then boil them until the are super soft.  I can mash them easily with a fork.  I drain them and then mash.  I like to freeze them in containers because Miss. E LOVES sweet potatoes. 

Applesauce

This is easy, as well!  Wash, peel and core 3 lbs of apples (basically a bag of apples).  You chop up the apples and throw them in the slow cooker with 1/2 cup of water.  You cook them on high for 4 hours.  After four hours, mash the apples with  your potato masher and there you have it!  Applesauce!  Easy!  Since there is no sugar added, I definitely recommend using a strong flavoured apple, otherwise your applesauce will be bland.  My favourite apples to use are Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Macintosh.  I freeze the applesauce in ice cube trays and then pop out a few as I need them.

Meat

I like to use my Ninja to grind the meat for Miss. E.  I find that it freezes better this way.  If you want to make it easier to get the meat to freeze into cubes, you can add a little water or stock to the ground meat.  

When I go to make lunch, I just boil up a few veggies (broccoli and carrots are favourites here) to go with the meal and lunch is served!

High Five For Friday- 05.06.15

Hi Everyone!

We are battling colds/coughs over here after our big weekend.  Turns out that very little sleep equals the perfect breeding ground for colds!  Ha ha.  Anywho....

1.). The party was perfect.  Everyone made it and there was a lot of laughter and love.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful, caring people in our lives.

2.). My cake turned out great!  It was a princess dress pull apart cake.  I found the idea on Pinterest.

3.). My peas and carrots are up!  I am so excited.  It has been extremely dry so I am happy to see any action in my garden.

4.).  I asked Miss. E to say thank you after opening her gifts and SHE DID!  She has been saying it home for a few weeks.  Whenever we try to "show off" a new skill, however, she usually clams up.  But, SHE DID IT!  Ha ha!  It was so sweet.

5.). Hubby and I had another date night and we went to see 'Pitch Perfect 2'.  Sooooooo funny!  Hubby was even laughing out loud!  I love Fat Amy.  She makes the show!  It was a fun night out.

Have a great weekend!

If you want to join in High Five For Friday, link up with the lovely ladies below!