So I'm not doing the 30 Day Shred. Yes it was on the list but it's been replaced. I can't do this exercise thing on my own. Don't get me wrong. I love how I feel about an hour after I'm done, how I can feel myself getting stronger and how I can see the smallest changes in my body. I fall short on the motivation. When I step on the scale and the number hasn't changed, or even worse- has climbed. I failed at Weight Watchers because I would forget to track and getting to the meetings got to be so stressful because of the kid's activities, because of work, because I could find a reason not to go and sit in a room with other people who struggle and watch them change and me gain.

Apparently I don't eat enough. On the advice of my coach I started eating more calories and that week I lost 3.8 lbs....uh...okay... I was eating good clean calories and that makes all the difference in the world. Yes I have a coach. A whole group of people actually, who are way more fit than me and it intimidates the hell out of me. I'm following a workout schedule called  FocusT25 and I've stuck with it for 7 weeks now.  My coach, Mandy Leonards is a great motivator and she's been on this journey herself so she gets that this isn't easy and is really helpful. She's a mom to two littles and I honestly have no idea how she gets it all done! The other coach in our group, Megan Parker has made an amazing transformation after having twins. Seriously her before and after pics are surreal and give me hope that I can do this too.

This morning I started week 2 of T25 Beta. Week 1 was a slight wash... I have had a sinus cold for a couple of weeks now and I allowed that to be my excuse to fall short last week. I made a renewed commitment over the weekend and even though I was up until 12:30am sewing for an upcoming craft fair- I dragged my ass our of bed this morning at 5:30am when my phone blared the Madagascar version of "I like to move it, move it" because the truth is I do like to move it first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed is the hardest part. Once I have my workout done I take a few minutes to recover, pack lunches and then I have my day to do what I need to do and if I can fit an extra workout in I do. I do a lot of walking and chasing the kids but I haven't run in a few weeks.

So I'm sticking with it, even though I have struggled to stay on track the last couple of weeks. I have 4 weeks left (I'm counting this week in that...one day of 7 does not a week make!) I can handle Shaun T's bedroom eyes for that much longer. And then I'll start alpha again, order gamma and start that once I've nailed the alpha and beta workouts. The workouts are fun and the schedule is done for you. All you have to do is show up, give it your best and, when you stop to catch a breath, take in the T25 eye candy.... :)

Kid's Clothes Week Day 2- Rainbow Dress

Early this year I became an official member of the East Coast Momma Collective. I had done a craft fair through them last Christmas and met some awesome people. One lady and I have been chatting quite a bit lately and last month we decided to trade services. She would make me a bunting and I would make her a dress for her daughter's birthday. I was so excited when Nadja (Little Lemonade Stand) picked up her dress yesterday and she loved it! 

I modified my current favorite Peek a Boo Pattern Perfect Peasant Dress pattern. I have to say these are some of my favorite patterns. Easy to follow instructions and the have a great fit. I made the skirt with 5" strips cut salvage to salvage and serged the together. The purple is actually a 10" strip doubled over to give the skirt a little weight on the bottom. Once I serged the skirt closed (lining up all those strips was tedious...) I top stitched each strip to ensure that the serge seams were stitched down and the skirt part was well finished. 

The clip is rainbow chevron (a nod to my and Nadja's love of all things chevron- I knew it would make that momma happy!) with a wooden button centre. I really love how it all came together.

Want to see what she made me?

I love this bunting! It has enough flags to be used for every holiday and I can just use colour coordinating chalk at holiday time. The rest of the time it can decorate the mantle in the kids play space. I love it!!! Thanks so much Nadja!

Kid's Clothes Week day 1

I had so much fun sewing for the last Kid's Clothes Week that I couldn't wait to do it again. Naturally I am getting overly ambitious and has a ton of big ideas for this week. And I have a lingering sinus cold and my sewing machine is eating needles... so today I'm posting a very simple but crazy cute appliqued shirt.

I found a pumpkin picture online. Flipped it and traced the image onto heat bond. I cut the shapes out of coordinating materials and used a brown fleece for the stem. I used fabric from October Afternoon and Adornit. Sometimes it is so hard to cut a fabric. I've got a bit of a stash built up and when just the right inspiration hits, I'll give I'm and cut something beautiful.  I know I'm not the only sewer with that problem! I've been holding onto so many pieces of the Fly a Kite line and this just seemed like the right time to use it.

After I ironed the pieces onto the shirt, I used a zigzag stitch to finish the applique and give it an embroidered look. (I want an embroidery machine oh so badly. ... Santa? ? I've been good! I swear! ) I finish every appliqued shirt with fray check. I like how it seals the seams. 

I love the orange floral print pants that were a hand me down that I have been wanting to put on Amelia for a while. This shirt pairs with them perfectly and just makes a perfectly sweet fall outfit.

This little girl is such a cutie pie! I know I'm a little bias but come on!

Love her pumpkin clip? Get one here

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

During our apple picking trip we got about 20lbs of apples and I've been using them in just about everything. I made these great pumpkin apple muffins from a recipe I modified from Saturday Nights.

Ingredients:

1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree (DO NOT use Pumpkin Pie filling)

2 cups of diced red apples

4 tbsp of butter

1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour 

1 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp of baking soda

1/2 cup of brown sugar 

1/2 cup of granulated sugar 

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I make my own mix using the recipe from My Baking Addiction)

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 egg

 Toppings:

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/3 cup of flour

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

3 tbsp of cold butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add the egg and blend for 2 minutes on medium. Add the pumpkin puree, In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice. Slowly combine the dry ingrediants. Fold in Apples. 

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the toppings. I find that clean hands gives you the best texture. Scoop muffin mixture into lined muffin tins and top with brown sugar crumble. Put in oven for 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

These are delicious and the kids ate them up!

Apple picking

One of my favorite family activities to do in the fall is to take the kids apple picking. It gives us all a chance to get outside and do something different and G and I get to help the kids understand where their food comes from. As usual we had a great time and this year Amelia was much more aware of what we were up to. It so so cute watching Austin help her pick apples and tell her that apples grow on trees and not in the store.

Nothing quite like squeezing 4 people into a selfie with the sun shinning down!

Daddy helped Oz reach the top of the tree for the big apples

Amelia taking her turn

"Guys, it's okay...I got dis."

post- picking ice cream

We try to go a few times but so far this day at the beginning of the month was the only one we managed to squeeze in so far. Ozzy will be going on a class adventure next week that I hope will give him a chance to get a few more. Although I will be needing more apples soon. Now that the counter top is in my kitchen I've been baking a lot of apple deliciousness for lunches! 

34 x 34- Colour Run

It was called Run or Dye and at one point I wasn't sure I would make it. The hills were steep and the course was slick- I'm sure there was more than one rolled ankle at that event.

I was in no mood to get up and participate in this run. The day before had just been a major bummer. I tried to think of a million excuses to get out of it. I had had a horrible day and an overwhelmingly stressful week leading up to race day. I just didn't want to do it. I wanted to curl up, drink coffee and wallow.

But I didn't. I dragged my ass out of bed at 6:30 am and by 7:10 am, with coffee in hand (Thanks Jenny!), we were on our way to the race.

I have to say it was pretty well organized and I'm happy that we arrived early.

People were really getting into and the start line made me feel like I was 21 and heading to a dance bar. Colour was flying and people were in a good mood and the energy was great!

Nice and clean at the start of the race

Not so clean after 5k!

Thankfully this all came out of my favorite running pants!

After the finish line there was a great party where more colour was flying. We grabbed some water and I danced out whatever stress was left before heading for home. I have to say I would very seriously consider running this again next year. I know it isn't a huge charity event but it was just so much fun!

And just like that an item is crossed off the list!

Perspective

Life has been interesting lately. We've been doing a renovation that has been planed since we purchased the house, Austin started school, I've had a career change and I'm trying to balance devoting my time to my kids and getting things done. I saw this little poem and I wish I had written it. My house is not pristine (see note about renovation) but my kids are loved!

"I hope my child looks back on today
And sees a mother who had time to play.
There will be years for cleaning and cooking,
But children grow up when you’re not looking.
Tomorrow I’ll do all the chores you can mention
But today, my baby needs time and attention.
So settle down cobwebs; dust go to sleep,
I’m cuddling my baby, and babies don’t keep"

And seriously they've sprouted a foot each over the summer!!!