VoxBox!

Yippee! I qualified for another voxbox from influenster! This time they've sent these fun press on manicure nails!

They look like fun right? 

My first impression of these is that they're fun, and easy to apply! I'm a "no fuss" kind of person. If it takes too long to get ready, its probably not worth it! While I've most definitely never been the "hot pink, zebra print manicure" type, I'm kind of excited to try these out! It would be fairly accurate to say I'll probably be wearing these nails accompanied with my hair in a pony tail and little to no makeup on!

The not so nice side of these is that it will be difficult to change diapers and care for a 2 month old with these on. Not to mention that my fingers have inherited a bit of the Bakker's slightly shorter and wider variety. I'm not sure if these smaller, longer nails will fit Bakker style fingers!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Coconut Oil

Recently I've started doing whats called "Oil Pulling" for more information on it and how to do it, look here. After only a few times doing it, I've already noticed a small change! I'm hoping to continue getting good results, (and whiter teeth!!) soon!
 There are so many good uses and reasons to use coconut oil! Here is a list of 101 Uses for Coconut Oil and here's a picture that I found that has a few!

For those like me out there that are pregnant, Its good to use it as a moisturizer to combat stretch marks! So far so good with using it as a moisturizer! I haven't gotten stretch marks yet! (Though the true test will be to see after this little one comes, apparently they don't always make their appearance till after the baby is born!) What do I know though, right? This is only my first!

35 Week Bumpdate!

This is not the most recent photo, it was taken on Family day (About three weeks ago now) and photo credit goes to my talented sister Jessica Bakker (Jessy Bakker Photography)

Development

  Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Size

 This little girl doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (about the size of a honeydew melon). Because she's so snug in your womb, she isn't doing somersaults anymore, but continues to kick away!

 

Weight Gain

 I might just skip this part this week! My increased appetite and lack of exercise may be making me gain a little faster then I should!

 

Symptoms

More swelling/water retention (which could be why I'm gaining more weight.. my body is holding onto way too much water making my hands, feet, and face swell!) 

 

I'm Craving

 I haven't had my doritos in a few weeks.. still craving them though!

 

I'm Avoiding

All the wonderful baked goodies I made with my sister and good friend over the weekend! Especially the delicious fudge! 

 

Good Things This Week

Always things to be thankful for! I had a good weekend with family, and have been productive with making new crocheted patterns! (As you can see with my previous post!)

 

Not So Good Things This Week

I've been having a headache stay in the background almost all week, and I've been constantly tired!

 

Looking Forward To

This weekend I'm both attending a wedding shower for a good friend, and my sister and mom are hosting a baby shower for me! I'm really excited for both!

Coffee Cozies Anyone?

 Recently I've been making all sorts of coffee cozies for to go cups! Its been fun coming up with different patterns and different colors for them!

Hearts, flowers...

"Despicable Me" Minions, moustaches...

And my personal favorite so far, Owls!

Me and my sister have started up a facebook page to show off some things we have made, and hopefully sell them as well! The page is called Handmade Crocheting. Check it out if you like!

34 Week Bumpdate!

 34 weeks and counting! I feel like time is starting to speed up a little bit now! Its time to start preparing meals to freeze, and having blankets and onesies washed!  

 As I'm typing this I can feel my little girl hiccup! What a strange, but wonderful feeling!

Development

 Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. 

Size

This little girl now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.
I'm still gaining about 1 lb a week, and its crazy to think that my little girl is taking half of that!!

 

Weight Gain

23 lbs and counting! 

 

Symptoms

Still having some trouble moving. I can't walk too fast! A new development has been slight swelling in my feet/ankles. I haven't noticed it too much except when I'm wearing shoes or tighter socks. I'm sure it will get worse before the end!

 

I'm Craving

I still can't think about Jalapeno Cheddar Doritos without my mouth watering just a little. Ben bought a bag over the weekend when our house was full of guests so we would have a snack available. I'm slightly ashamed to say that I probably ate close to half the bag. 

 

I'm Avoiding

Other then BBQ sauce and most meats, I'm going to now try to avoid junk food. Not that I haven't been trying to avoid junk food before. I need to try to reach for a glass of water instead of juice, or an apple instead or chocolate when I have the munchies!

 

Good Things This Week

My husband started a new job on Monday!! So far so good! He's enjoying his work and being challenged to learn more (which is what he was really hoping for!) Hopefully he can get things figured out with his apprenticeship. If he can continue it soon, that'd be great! His job also starts later, so where he used to leave the house at 6:30, he now leaves at 7:30! Which is great for me, since I'm usually wide awake by 6:30, so I have a good hour in the morning to help him with breakfast and talk with him! Its definitely nice to start the day with him!

I've also been able to get out and about alot this week! Alot of things to keep me busy! Which brings me to the next section:

 

Not So Good Things This Week

Since I've been doing alot this week, I'm also feeling quite a bit tired!

 

Looking Forward To

Warmer weather! (Which means not so slippery sidewalks!!) And seeing family this weekend!

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser

Recently I've signed up with a website called Influenster! Basically its a program where you can read and write reviews on products, ask questions, and also test products! The test boxes they send out are called "VoxBoxes". About three weeks ago I received a mystery voxbox with three small bottles inside.

Safe to say I was pretty excited to receive my first voxbox and test out a new product! After the first wash my hair was feeling great! I was a little bit skeptical of the split end serum that came with, but it worked really well. My split ends did seem to get better!







Now I've received the full product and it has been revealed! Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser! Their newest product! I wasn't too surprised by the fact that the L'Oreal brand was Garnier! I've always liked their products in the past. I am definitely going to be browsing the shelves with these in mind once my stash of shampoo's are gone! I've been getting shiny, soft, non greasy hair from this product!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes

Baby Blanket

When you've got those nesting urges, there's nothing quite like crocheting a blanket for your anticipated child! Like I said in my first post, I've been learning how to crochet for the past half a year or so. The best way for me to learn was to pick a pattern I like and learn any stitches I needed to learn in order to make it! In that way I've learned many different stitches used in things like hats, scarves, slippers, flowers, and blankets.

This blanket I made with a lazy wave/chevron pattern I found on youtube here. It was super easy and fun to do! The original inspiration for this blanket did come from Pinterest though! There's always too many awesome DIY inspiring things on there!

32 Week Bumpdate!

 Its a little late in the game to start doing bumpdates! But, I thought I'd start anyways! One of my friends has been doing them for a while (You can see her blog here: justanothergirl) I love the concept of posting updates every so often! Seems like a fun thing to do!
 Anyways, I'm at 32 weeks, and even though the end should be in sight, I feel like its still taking forever to get through this pregnancy! I'm sure soon enough I'll be feeling more along the lines of not having enough time rather then too much! Preparations are still happening, and hopefully everything is perfect for when this little girl gets here! When the picture below was taken, she was in a weird position! This picture makes me look quite large already! But really when she's laying normal in there I don't look quite as large!

Development

She now has toenails and fingernails as well as her real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz)! Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she is now starting to plump up!

Size

She is about the size of a large jicama right now according to my baby center update! Don't ask me what a jicama is exactly, the picture looks like some sort of root vegetable though!
This little girl weighs around 3 3/4 lbs and is about 16.7 inches long! I'm gaining around 1 lb a week and roughly half of that goes straight to this little munchkin!

 

Weight Gain

Just over 20lbs now! I had lost weight in the beginning of this pregnancy due to bad sickness, but now I'm up 20lbs! I'm starting to gain probably more then I should be and fast!

 

Symptoms

Lately I've been having alot of trouble moving! Whether its walking (I have started to waddle), bending, getting up, rolling over, almost anything! I've had some dull pain in my lower back and alot of tightening in my belly! Apparently its normal, unless it gets severe I'm not going to worry about it.
 I've also had some mild heartburn, but nothing that a tums or two couldn't solve!
 A few weeks ago I got a call from my midwife telling me to start taking iron supplements right away (I had taken a blood test two days before) because my iron levels were VERY low! So for the past few weeks I've been taking a liquid iron supplement called floravit. Its been a HUGE help! I don't feel nearly as tired as I used to!

 

I'm Craving

Reese's Peanut butter cups, Jalapeno Cheddar Doritos, and Chapmans Sorbet (Not the stuff with dairy in it.. the straight up fresh fruit sorbet! Otherwise its just fruity ice cream..) So basically all the things that are the worst for me I'm craving! Its a good thing I have a husband who only gives in to these cravings when they're at their most extreme!!

 

I'm Avoiding

I still can't handle BBQ sauce and most meats! 

 

Good Things This Week

I finished my cute baby girl blanket! And my sister is coming all the way for a visit today! Oh, and Valentines day! Which means that after that, there will be alot of chocolate on sale!

 

Not So Good Things This Week

The freezing cold temperatures outside! It makes it hard for me to get out and get some exercise when its -27 out there and the sidewalks are frozen! 

 

Looking Forward To

This little girl of mine to get here!!

Its Baking Time!

 I always love the moment when the banana's sitting in the fruit bowl are the perfect ripeness for muffins! Its time to pull out the ingredients and measuring cups and whip up a batch or two of my favorite Banana Muffins! I can't remember where I got this recipe from, its scribbled onto a piece of paper with notes adding or changing the recipe slightly. The end product? A simple to make, delicious muffin!

Simple Banana Muffin Recipe (Makes 12)

1 1/2 Cups of All Purpose Flour

1 tsp of Baking Powder

1 tsp of Baking Soda

1/2 tsp of Salt

3 Large Bananas mashed

3/4 Cup of White Sugar

1 Egg

1/3 Cup of melted Butter

1 tsp of Vanilla

1 Cup of Chocolate Chips (Optional)

1/2 Cup of Walnut Pieces (Optional)

Start by preheating your oven to 350 Degrees and lining your muffin tins. Add together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt using a whisk to blend it all together! (I find using a whisk is an easy and very practical alternative to sifting!) In a separate, larger bowl, mash your bananas, and combine with sugar, the egg, butter, and vanilla. Stir thoroughly.
 Add the dry mixture to the wet and fold in (If adding chocolate chips and/or walnut pieces, add now). Make sure you don't mix it completely! Its good to keep the batter a little bit lumpy!

 Spoon your batter into the lined muffin tins and pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes (or until golden brown)

 Cool on cooling rack, and enjoy!

Olympics!

Almost nothing better then on a cold winter day to bundle up with a cup of hot tea and watch the Olympics! Except to do all that and watch Canada win Gold AND Silver during the Olympics! I watched the men's freestyle skiing moguls today, couldn't have been more thrilled to see three Canadians in the Top four!

Apparently Canadians dominate in the Mogul sports!!

New Blog!

Now its time for a new blog as I start new hobbies! About half a year ago I've started to learn how to crochet! It has definitely been fun always trying out new patterns, and learning new methods! I've made so many things from hats and scarves to blankets, baby boots, and coffee cozies! But now its time to start to do more around the house myself! There are so many great ideas on the internet, but its hard to know what works and what doesn't! So here we go! Its time to start to DIY.