Tips to handle a busy schedule

Recently engaged, I've started working an extra part time job during evenings and weekends to save extra money for the wedding, and a future home. Combined with my other job though, I'm working 65 hours a week, and it can take a toll. Below, I share some of my tips for handling an incredibly busy life.

1. Meal prepping

Meal prepping can be incredibly helpful when life gets busy. It frees up time before work, and helps keep on track with healthy eating. I'm currently on Weight Watchers, so this is huge for me. It might not seem like a lot to spend 10 extra minutes making lunch in the morning, but that's 10 more minutes that you could be sleeping.

2. Multi-task everything

I multi-task everything that I can. I constantly listen to books on tape and podcasts while doing dishes and going for walks, so that I can do two things at once. I also have Bluetooth headphones so that I can talk to my mom and fiance while I go for walks and do my meal prepping. I've even been known to eat dinner while relaxing in the tub. I am the queen of multi tasking. It helps me keep on track with my goals, and gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

3. Treat yourself

I cannot stress enough how important this is. Working two jobs, working while in school, volunteering, whatever it is, you need to reward all your fantastic effort. I recently got myself a new Fitbit and headphones, and I don't feel guilty about it at all, because I've worked hard to deserve them. If you put every single cent in the bank, you'll go crazy. Even if it's just a new outfit or a manicure, YOU MUST TREAT YOURSELF.

4. Fit exercise in and around your life

When you're juggling a full schedule, exercise can fall by the wayside. I certainly don't have time to spend on the treadmill. Instead, I've made a commitment to fitting in exercise around my schedule. When it's nice, I take walks on my lunch break, and unless it's truly terrible out, I always walk to and from my second job. It's only 15 minutes each way, but it makes a huge difference.

5. Get enough sleep

I know that can be really difficult when you're really busy, but sleep has to be top priority when you have long, full days. I used to stay up all hours of the night, reading BuzzFeed and watching YouTube, trying to regain the evenings and weekends I've lost to my second job, but I've finally given up and tried to get more rest. I thank myself for it in the morning, at the start of the next long day.

6. Feed and water yourself

Just like a plant, you need adequate food and water to sustain yourself. Nutrition might not seem that important when rushing from one thing to the next, but if you're going to have all the needed energy, you need to eat healthy meals. They don't need to be anything elaborate. Sometimes my dinner is mini whole grain naan pizzas that I make in under two minutes, and steamed broccoli.Simple and relatively nutritious.

7. Reach out

If you're stressed, make sure not to bottle it up. Let someone know. Keeping stress in is incredibly unhealthy, and not worth saving others from hearing about it. If they love you, they're going to be happy that you reached out. Let it out, talk about it, and you'll be better for it!

I really hope that these tips have helped, I know they've helped me so far. Stay sane, and let me know in the comments below if you have any tips that you'd like to share.

Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie

So I've been trying my best lately to eat a bit healthier, but it's not always easy because I LOVE sweet things. At the mall, there's this smoothie place that makes PB smoothies and they are sooooo delicious that I decided to make my own version of it with a few twists.

I know that this isn't the healthiest smoothie on earth, BUT it is a slightly healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth. It makes a great snack or an easy breakfast.

This recipe is for one serving.

YOU'LL NEED:

A blender

1 banana
1 spoonful of peanut butter
1 large pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup of vanilla (or plain) greek yogurt (bonus if it's frozen)
1 scoop of protein powder (convenient that mine is PB & chocolate flavoured!)
1/2 (or 3/4) cup of chocolate almond milk

If you want to kick it up a notch, add some coffee to it!

Blend it up, and there you go! It'd delicious and very filling.
One thing I love about smoothies is how you can customize them - you can add more or less of whatever you want to make it how you like it. 

What's your favourite kind of smoothie? Let us know in the comments below!

Talk to you soon,

Too Faced Valentine's look

Valentine's Day is one of my favourite days of the year. When I was younger, it was all about dressing cute (Valentine's was one of the only days of the year that my catholic high school allowed casual dress), and marveling at the possibility of the day. Maybe I'd finally tell my crush how I felt, or maybe someone would let me know how they felt about me. After a bad breakup a few years ago, the day was about eating brownies and drinking wine in bed, and now that I'm in a long term (freshly engaged!) relationship, it's about fun activities and a good meal. Last year, we hit up the buffet, then made bears at Build A Bear. One mainstay is a cute makeup look. I LOVE to go all out with the pink on Valentin's Day. There's nothing like visually screaming your excitement for the day! Below is a simple look using (almost) all Too Faced products!

After applying an eye shadow base (I currently love Smashbox Photo Finish lid primer), open up the Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons palette, and apply Sprinkles to the inner corner. Next, apply Cotten Candy to the lid, followed by Totally Fetch in the crease. Finish off with Earl Grey in the outer corners, and along the lower lash line.

After finishing up the eyes, I applied Too Faced Love Flush blush in Justify My Love to my cheeks, and Champagne Truffle eye shadow from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette as a nice light highlight. I finished off the look with a couple of coats of Lash Paradise mascara from L'Oreal (A total dupe for Too Faced Better Than Sex) to my lashes, and Covergirl Lipperfection lipstick in 327 Bomshell to my lips.

I hope you enjoyed this simple and fun makeup look. You can always substitute anything that I've used on the lids with other pinks. Remember to have fun with it! Let me know your favourite pink eye shadow in the comments below, or let me know your V-Day plans! I love hearing about the day of love!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is getting closer. The day of romance, chocolate, roses and sexy lingerie. Unless you're not in a relationship - then it's chocolates, netflix, romcoms and comfy PJs.

My question is this: Why do we celebrate?

I did a little bit of research and it's a little bit difficult to find a straight answer. From what I can see it leads back to Saint Valentine who, some believe to be a priest. It was thought that he helped couples get married and he was punished for doing so. I also read that it has origins from the Roman holiday called Lupercalia - a festival to rid evil spirits, cleanse the city and release purity, health and fertility. 
Although, I swear being told something about Valentine ridding a town of snakes when I was in like, first grade. I don't know.

Along the way though, February 14th has turned into the ultimate Hallmark holiday that makes couples feel pressured to celebrate their love. If you're in love, you're lucky. If not, you're shit (excuse my language) out of luck and made to feel forever alone. 

When in a relationship, it's expected for there for be flowers and chocolate. A lovely intimate dinner followed by, well, an intimate - sexy-  time with your partner.

When you're alone, it's expected that you feel down in the dumps. Eat all that chocolate, sit in your pjs and binge watch romantic comedies wishing that was your life.

I think that it's really great to have a day to celebrate and share your love for one another. But why do we narrow that down to one day? While I think that it's a nice thought to go all out for Valentine's, I also think that it's completely unnecessary. You should be making each other feel special every day or on any random day. Share your feelings whenever and tell your partner you love them often. Surprise them with flowers randomly. I think it means more to have all of these little special moments because it means that they're thinking of you - or you of them, rather than feeling like it's expected and you have to do it on this particular day.

This Valentine's Day, the BF and I are making dinner together at home and are just going to enjoy each other's company. Nothing crazy, nothing fancy. Just me and him - enjoying each other's company. That's the way I like it.

If you're single, don't let it get you down! Again, it's just another day. Pamper yourself - love yourself. That's important. If you want to do something, grab some friends and celebrate a Galentine's Day or a Friendine's Day. 

Remember to love always and to not feel pressured by the "hype" around Valentine's Day.
Whatever you choose to do - whether it be a fancy dinner, something expensive, cheap, simple or nothing at all - that's it's the perfect choice.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the day of love, so leave a comment below!

Happy Valentine's Day lovelies! xox

A little bit about me!

As Em said earlier this week, one reason we created this blog is to connect with others, but so far, you don't really know that much about us. Below are 50 facts about myself that'll give you a little bit more insight into who I am! Enjoy!

1. I’m originally from North Bay. I moved to Ottawa for school and stayed because I met a guy. He’s now my fiancée, so it worked out!

2. I’m into every type of music, except metal. I just cannot get into it!

3. My absolute favourite colour of all time is orange, but my day to day favourite colour changes all the time. I’m really into pink right now!

4. I couldn’t ride a bike until I was 12, but now I’m obsessed and bike everywhere I can!

5. Baking is my greatest passion. I will find any excuse to bake, especially brownies.

6. Except for the occasional pop at a restaurant, I only drink water. Even when I was little, if I was offered a pop I would pick water instead.

7. I have three siblings, and older sister, and two younger brothers.

8. Out of all of us, I’m the only naturally chubby one.

9. I run an Ottawa area chicken finger review Instagram, under the name chickenfingerlove.

10. I’m pretty sure I’m a mermaid. I’m not even a great swimmer, I just love being in water. I’d spend my whole life in it if I could!

11. I’ve only left my home province once in all of my 27 years, and it wasn’t even to go to another province. It was to go to Honduras for a wedding.

12. I’ve been to college three times, for communications and media studies, library technician, and esthetician. I work in none of those fields, but they were great experiences!

13 My weight is something that I’ve always been insecure about, but I’m currently working to change my life on Weight Watchers! Four pounds down in the first four days!

14. I LOVE wiener dogs. I don’t have one, YET, but my fiancées family does! I’ve told him that’s how I knew he was perfect for me.

15. I’ve lived in 13 different houses in my life. My family moved around a lot when I was a kid, and as a result, I now feel restless if I’m in one house for too long. The longest I’ve lived in a single house was for 7 years in my preteen and teen years.

16. I have a coin collection. It’s mostly foreign coins, but I also collect collectible Canadian ones, and I’m working on getting all the state quarters from the United States!

17. My foot size can be as large as a ten, depending on the shoe, which is pretty big for my height, 5’ 5”.

18. My favourite makeup brand is Too Faced. I have almost all their bigger eye shadow palettes.

(Just a small part of the collection!)

19. I was in a play when I was in the 6th grade. I was a blue bird in Into The Woods Jr.! 

20. It’s super weird, but for years, I’ve been having a recurring dream where I go to Harvey’s and eat a bacon cheese dog. What does this mean?? Tell me if you know!

21. I’m pretty confident that I could eat Kraft Dinner every single day without getting sick of it.

22. I can’t drive, and every time I try, I panic and think that I won’t be able to stay in the lines.

23. If I could live anywhere, I’d live in Prince Edward Island or Vermont. No particular reason why, I just think they’re both so pretty!

24. I don’t really count myself as either a girly girl or a tomboy, and never have. I’ll happily spend a whole day outdoors hiking or biking, but not without my lipstick on! No reason not to have both!

25. I went to a French immersion school, so I can speak a bit of French, but I’m better at hearing French. Don’t try to talk about me in French, or I’ll know!

26. I can name all 31 NHL team on command, in under 3 minutes.

27. I have an addiction to Bath & Body Works shower gels. I currently have about 20.

28. I used to be terrified of roller coasters, but now I ride huge ones, no problem (except when I’m one them, when I’m yelling HOLY SHIT the whole time!).

29. I didn’t have my first kiss until four years ago, when I was 23, because I was too nervous to even talk to guys, let alone kiss them!

30. My grandma is my best friend. I had trouble making friends growing up, so I spent a lot of time with her, but even now that I have an easier time making friends, she’s still my best friend in the world!

31. I’ve worn glasses since I was 11. I can’t wear contacts because they hurt my eyes, no matter which ones I try, so it’s a good thing I look cute in glasses!

32. I have about 50 tubes of lipstick. I can never get enough.

33. I love vintage/kitschy stuff, like my lighted makeup mirror and bubble letter bathroom clock that spells out the word bath, from the 80s, and my sherry glasses, which were a wedding present to my grandparents in 1960.

34. I have clinical depression, which I currently fight with a combination of physical activity, vitamin D, and talking to others about it. I’ve been on and off medication for it though.

35. When I was little, I wanted to be a model, and I still aspire to walk in a fashion show some day.

36. I LOVE HomeSense. My fiancée knows the absolute best way to cheer me up is to take me there for a walk around.

37. When I was about 13-14, I had insomnia, stemming from the fact that I was sure that if I went to sleep, either I wouldn’t wake up, or I’d find out someone I love had died in the night. Once I got over that fear, it still took another year for me to sleep properly.

38. I once went backpacking in Algonquin Park, when I was in the 6th grade, with my family. It felt like an amazing accomplishment to carry all my gear on my back for miles. I’d love to do it again.

39. Weddings are one of my favourite thing. I love going to them, planning them, watching tv shows about them, talking about them. I’m currently planning my own, and I couldn’t be more excited!!

40. My favourite movie is Stand By Me. I watched it for the first time in grade 10 religion class, and now I’ve seen it probably 50-60 times since. I even have a copy autographed by two of the stars!

41. I’m scared of the dark, and things that go bump in the night. I sleep with a fan on to block out night sounds.

42. Worms are my absolute worst fear. I know it’s crazy, but they freak me out so bad! I can’t even look down at the sidewalk when it’s raining because I don’t want to see them.

43. I’m not usually too into sports but I love the Olympics. I can’t wait for the next ones! My favourite Olympic sports are figure skating, bobsledding, and hockey.

44. I love being Canadian. There’s nowhere I’d rather be from!

45. My cousin was the premier of Quebec in the 1930s.

46. I have a niece and five nephews, ranging from one month to nine years old.

47. I was once in a car crash that totalled my parents car, when I was three. I’d wanted to sit in the front seat that night, and if my mom had said yes, I probably wouldn’t be alive right now.

48. I’ve made a few cooking tutorials on YouTube, under the name chrislovescooking. I haven’t made one in a year because my camera woman now works weekends, but I’d like to get back into it!

49. I love to read, and will even read shampoo bottles and other stuff that doesn’t interest me or have an relevance for me, just because I love reading so much.

50. I’m not scared to die, but I am scared to not live. I’ve always taken great relish in discovering new foods, activities, friends and places, and I’m scared of the day that’ll end.

I hope you've enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about me. Share a random or fun fact about yourself in the comments below, so we can get to know more about you too!