Today is the first day since July 1 that our little family won't be rushing from work to the daycare to swimming and then high tailing it to soccer. The kids have gotten so used to eating wraps, fruit and other snacks in the car that I wonder if they'll even know what to do tonight when we pick them up and head home for dinner before heading to soccer (and getting there on time!). I am seriously wondering is Miss A even remembers how to use a fork...(the milk mess left behind with her morning serial is a clear indication that she and utensils still need some practice to get along)

Keeping in mind that the weather is not looking great for the week, I planned the week's meals keeping in mind two things:

1) I do not want to spend all of our new found evening family time in the kitchen
2) I hate packing lunches

Keeping it simple and taking advantage of some local market meats and produce, I came up with a simple meal plan that will produce left overs for a quick and easy lunch pack up so there is little to no work to do the next  morning:

	Lunch	Supper
Monday	Pizza rolls	Chicken burgers
Tuesday	Chicken pattie & salad	Tacos
Wednesday	Taco salad	sweet and sour meatball skewers
Thursday	Wraps	Slow cooker Veggie lasagna
Friday	Slow cooker Veggie lasagna

As long as the weather cooperates we'll be camping this weekend so I didn't plan supper for Friday yet. Most of the meals are paleo and gluten free (kamut noodles for the lasagna).  What will be on your plates this week?

Everyone needs some sparkle!- GIVEAWAY

I am a little bit of an accessory junkie.

I love jewelry that bring my mostly black wardrobe a pop of colour and a bit of glamour. Jewlery can dress up any outfit taking you from drab to fab in a minute.

Fact is that I love jewelry so much that I bought a ton of lia sophia pieces over the past couple of years.  This year I signed up to be an Independent Adviser!

I love that the company backs up their pieces with a lifetime guarantee. I’ve got little kids and have snagged more necklaces on car seats, shopping carts, beds than I care to admit. The lia sophia pieces were replaced no questions asked...the other pieces I was out of luck.

When I saw the promotions for July, I was thrilled. Not only were a number of great pieces on sale but they reduces the customer save plan to buy 1 get 2 @50% off! (Usually you need to buy 2 and get 4 @ 50% off)

So to share the love of jewelry, I've decided to host a Mystery Hostess virtual party (Hostess is Lisa Boutilier)!  As a matter of fact, many of us may not have the time to attend a party, let alone host a party especially during peak vacation time! So what a fun way to add some jewelry to your collection in the comfort of your own home and possibly win some FREE jewelry!  

What is a virtual mystery host party?  

Everyone invited to the ‘party’ that places an order now through July 18, 2014 until July 23, 2014 by 11:59 am EST  is considered a guest. At 12 noon on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, one of the guests will be chosen as the mystery host and will receive all the host benefits of this virtual party. This means by placing one order you could win your order PLUS additional pieces all for free!

July just also happens to be Hostess bonus month so if the show has a minimum of 10 orders and 2 bookings the winner will take home 60% of the show’s sales in FREE jewelry! The winner will also get up to 4 pieces at the hostess bonus price. {I'm going to pay the $15 dollar fee that is charged to the hostess to take advantage of the 60%off}

Feel Free to Shop my lia sophia site 

§  Buy 1 at Regular price, get up to 2 items at half off!! (no limit to how many of these you can do 2 for 4, 3 for 6, etc)

§  Half off items are the most expensive items! 

§  Sale items are included in the buy 1 get 2

***********

Hostess Info:

 Lia Sophia Mystery Hostess Requirements: 

1.      Place an order! $1-$49=1 entry, $50-$99= 3 entries, $100+= 5 entries.   

You can view the lia sophia catalog online HERE 

2.       Contest ends Wednesday, July 23 2012 at 11:59 A.m. EST.
CONGRATULATIONS JULIE HAYES!!!

3.       Contest open to Canada only, must be 18 years of age or older. Guests who place orders from outside Halifax, NS are responsible for the shipping costs or orders to their home. Please select the option to have your order sent to you.

4.       Winner will be chosen via random draw. The winner must respond by Thursday, July 24 8am ATL before disqualified and a new winner chosen and notified. The mystery show order must be submitted no later than 2pm EST on Friday, July 25, 2014 in order to take advantage of the July Hostess Bonus and July sale items

Optional Extra Entries: An additional entry can be earned by doing the following. Leave a separate comment below for each of the following you complete:

1.   Book a home party! (if you live in the Halifax Area)
1. August=5 entries 
2. September= 3 entries
3. October = 2 entries
2. Book your own online party to ensure your freebies. If you  close out your online party on or before Friday, August 15, 2014, you'll earn 5 additional entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Belated Birthday 3

How is my sweet girl 3 already?! At the time around her actual birthday, my father in law was still in critical condition in ICU and I wasn't able to focus on pulling together a birthday party for Amelia, so Gordon and I decided that we would make her day EXTRA special. I stayed up late making cupcakes and cookies for her to take to her daycare and then decided that while I didn't get a chance to make the dress I had had in mind for her birthday I could make her a quick skirt and t-shirt.

Thank you Little Lemonade Stand for the awesome banner!

I went to bed late and maybe 30 minutes later my darling girl crawled into my bed. I have to be honest, I loved the cuddle. I know this time goes so quickly...relish the little moments... She woke up with a smile and enjoyed her special birthday breakfast. She was thrilled with the balloons and Happy Birthday Bunting. She had a birthday party first thing!

She was so excited to see her birthday dress. She twirled in that skirt like there was no tomorrow :)  I used the Oliver +S lazy Skirt directions with the Children at Play fabric collection from Michael Miller. I absolutely love the balloon print and, thankfully, so did Amelia

She did the chicken dance and sang songs...and then she saw the treats for her school! I though her little face was going to split she was smiling so much and her eyes were killing me! So much excitement and joy in those little eyes. She had a great party with her friends.

Cookie cutters from Cheap Cookie Cutters

In case you are wondering what happened to the Jessie theme...she changed her mind and wanted Minnie Mouse, Mama obliged. Austin had Mickey for his 3rd...must be something about the mouse and three.

We had pizza and a Minnie Mouse cake, she opened gifts and loved them all. Three. I can't believe that my little girl is growing so fast.