The Adventure Begins

My daughter made my day! It’s one of those days with too much to do and not enough time to do it in. I’m sure you can all relate at this time of year! One of the things on the to do list was making cookies for our Guide Christmas 🎄 party tomorrow. I usually make amazing shortbread using a cookie 🍪 press and they look fantastic! Well it seems like my cookie press is plain worn out after about 15 years of cookie making 🙄. I messed around with the dough to try to get it work and it ended up “different” than usual. My kids assure me they still taste good but I was feeling frustrated. Then my 9 year old daughter (who was helping make the cookies) looked at me and said “Mom, I just love how much effort you put into everything.” So it doesn’t matter how the cookies turn out. It’s about the example I’m setting for my girls, and the time we spend together. They may not be the best looking or tasting cookies I have ever made, but I think they are the ones I am most proud of. #momlife #momofthree #momofgirls #momofthreegirls #christmascookies #shortbreadcookies

BEST MEAL EVER! This restaurant went above and beyond! The chef made special appetizers, meal, and dessert that was completely gluten, dairy, and nightshade free! It was the most amazing meal ever. And so nice to just be taken care of and actually be able to eat all the courses! We will absolutely be back! #marketcalgary #glutenfree #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #nightshade #nightshades #nightshadefree

Do you make healthy choices on the go? We are at the mall after seeing Santa! My 14 year old had to be coerced with supper at the mall in order to happily participate. She thinks she’s too grown up for Santa 🙄🙄🙄 Despite the lure of all the delicious tempting foods, I stuck with healthy. Why? The other food will taste good for a moment and then make me feel terrible. I just have to think of that and it’s easier to stick with! And you know what? This salad 🥗 tasted pretty good! #healthymallfood #mallsupper #glutenfree #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #hflc #hflcdiet #healthysalads #healthychoicesmatter

These are so DELICIOUS! These gluten dairy free shrimp balls taste amazing! And guess what? They are SIMPLE - even I can make them 😉 Want the recipe? Just ask! #glutenfree #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #healthyeatingtips #lowcarb #lowcarbdiet

What do you wish you could tell your former self? I was at my daughters Christmas concert tonight and found myself sitting beside a lady with two young children. She was clearly stressed trying to keep them entertained and quiet 🤫 I can very clearly remember those times when my kids were little. I was frustrated, exhausted, and mostly felt like I was failing at my vision of being the perfect mom. I wish I could go back and tell myself to just enjoy the moments because they don’t last. I would tell myself to focus on loving them and not to worry so much! I now know those times when they are little are fleeting. #momlife #momofthree #momofgirls #momofthreegirls #postpartumdepression #feelingdown #copingwithdepression #musicconcert #designclub #decorations #musiccelebration #lifewithlittles #lifewithgirls

Sometimes... #polarexpress #motivationalquote

I love to keep meals SIMPLE! Good quality hamburger topped with avocado 🥑 pickles and mustard. Served in a lettuce wrap with a side of coleslaw. Easy peasy and I was able to get supper on the table AND get all the clean up done BEFORE we had to head out the door for Guides! Keep it simple! #mealplanning #glutenfree #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #hflc #hflclifestyle

***Two Butt moves you are going to love ❤️ *** 💚 Eccentric bridge 💚 Eccentric Clam shell 🐚 10 reps of each - 3 sets LIKE and SHARE! #buttworkout #buttworkouts #eccentric #workout #workouts #workoutmom #workoutmotivation #workoutmood #workoutoftheday #workoutvideo #workoutroutine #momofthree #momofgirls #momofthreegirls

I'm not really a fan of "aging gracefully". I don't know about you, but I want to be as healthy, happy, and mobile as possible for as long as possible. 👉Wrinkles don't bother me (anymore) 👉Keeping active and strong helps to support my joints 👉Eating healthy food and drinking lots of water helps me feel energized! The one thing I just can't embrace is GREY HAIR! I'm headed to the hair dresser to COVER UP that grey! What is it about getting older that you wish you could change?? #aginggracefully #coveringgrey #greyhairsucks

You know when something is good for you but it’s just GROSS?!? Omega 3 is like that for me. I can’t tell you how many different kinds I have tried. And although this one is certainly not like a dessert or anything, it is the BEST tasting one I have found so far. Why even bother? Well our bodies are meant to have a balance of 1:1 omega 3: omega 6. Typically, it’s more like 1:19. That means processes in our bodies just don’t work. It contains fatty acids that we have to get from our diet - our bodies can’t manufacture them and they are building blocks of many things - including even cell membranes! Basically, your body can’t function properly without them. Do you take Omega 3 supplements? #omega3 #omega3fattyacids #omega3supplements #healingthegut #healingthroughfood

👉🏻You asked for it! ***HIIT Workout!*** 💚 squats - 1 minute 💚 30 second rest 💚 mummy kicks - 1 minute 💚 30 second rest 💚 cross jacks - 1 minute 💚 1 minute rest Repeat 3X total Don’t worry, I will show you all the non impact modifications. What do you think 🤔? Drop a comment #hiitworkout #hiitcardio #hiitcardioworkout #workoutmom #workoutmood #workoutmotivation #workoutvideo #workoutvideos #workoutoftheday #workoutdaily #workoutvids

Do you ever feel like a terrible 😫 mom? My youngest daughter always wants to make supper 🥘 and I'm always telling her that we will do that soon - she can pick something and we will get the groceries and she can make it. The only problem is that it never actually seems to happen. I'm missing the boat BIG TIME. I think what she is really saying is she just wants to spend time helping me and learning in the kitchen. Last night, she asked if she help make supper. I told her what I was planning and she said she wanted to make a salad 🥗. So that's what she did - her favourite kind - a fruit 🍎 🥝🍓 🍌salad! When I was a kid, the worst thing anyone could do to me is to ask me to do something in the kitchen, so I think I am trying not to do to my kids what I HATED. The thing I have to remember is that we are all different. And you know what? The fruit salad was a REALLY good addition to the meal! How do you include your kids in the kitchen? #momlife #momofthree #momofgirls #momofthreegirls #glutenfree #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #glutenfreelife #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #fruitsalad #kidscooking

Fall off the bone 🍖 ribs! Guess how I made them? In my instant pot! You know what I love about using an instant pot? It’s hands off. You just put it in and wait! It isn’t a super fast process for the ribs - it has to come up to pressure - about 10 minutes, and then cook for 25, then the pressure naturally released in about 45 minutes. A few minutes under the broiler and they were perfect 👌🏻 The taste was amazing and they were fall off the bone 🍖 tender. Definitely worth the wait. #mealplanning #instantpot #instantpotmeals #ribs🍖 #glutenfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #nightshade #nightshades #nightshadefree

What do leftovers 🥘 mean to you?? To me leftovers 🥗 🥘 mean a quick easy healthy meal that I don’t have to think about! #glutenfree #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #mealplanning #nightshade #nightshades #nightshadefree #leftovers

A few kids cried, a lot screamed, and everyone had a good time! The McFadyen annual haunted house is complete for another year. Now what are we going to do with all these straw bales?? #halloween2017 #hauntedhouse #scarefest

Are your kids picky? If all three of my kids like something I consider it a full blown miracle 🌈 I made this recipe from our Smoothie and Salads group and not only did all the kids eat it, but they liked it enough to have this adorable mini mason jar version in their lunches tomorrow! #smoothieandsalad #masonjarsalad #mealplanning #mealprep #mealplanning #nightshade #nightshades #nightshadefree #momlife #momofthree #momofgirls #momofthreegirls #glutenfree #glutenfreelife #glutenfreediet #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #dairyfreediet #dairyfreelife #pickyeaters #pickykids #kidapproved

Do you like to read for pure escapism? That was me too for so long. I only read books that were easy reads and had happy endings. I wanted to get lost in the story but not have to think too much. I never even read any kind of non fiction. When my kids were little I joined a book club and found that I loved the opportunity to use my brain, broaden my book horizons, and actually have a discussion. A few years ago, if you had told me I would be reading THIS book - I would have said NO WAY! #avidreader #bookclub #whatareyoureading #lovetoread #favoritebooks