Our Experience with Healthy Meal Plan

Hey guys! Happy Fabulous Friday!

As summer starts to wind down and the fall routine begins next week, both Mr. Fix-It and I decided it was time to kick it back into gear with healthy eating and exercise. I was in a great routine for the first few weeks of July and then it all came to a halt when we went on holidays. Doesn't it always? I love indulging in food, drinks and all round summer shenanigans. However, my bod paid for it. Two weeks ago I was feeling sluggish, my pants were most definitely snug and I wasn't thrilled with myself that I ditched the gym. I totally believe that you need to indulge, but when it's making you feel tired and sluggish then it's a good sign to get yourself going again.

I would say we live a pretty healthy lifestyle. Both Mr. Fix-It and I have always been active and we work hard to instil the importance of a healthy lifestyle in our kids. Whether I'm heading to the gym, or Mr. Fix-It is off for a run, it's part of our family routine. It's important for the kids to see that living an active lifestyle is just part of our every day family routine. However, during the summer, I find it hard to get to the gym. It's so beautiful out and we usually end up at the park or out for a walk after dinner. And, of course, the beer. Beer and summer just go hand-in-hand. Right?

I've never been a girl that is obsessed with the scale. For me, I want to fill good in my clothes and my muscles to feel super strong. My weight goes up and down by about 10ish pounds (again, not going with the scale but how my clothes fit) fairly regularly and I know that when my clothes start to feel like their strangling me then it's time to do a reality check.

So, long story short, when Healthy Meal Plan asked us to try their food for a week, I WAS IN!

Family Movie Night & Popcorn Bar with Netflix

Hey everyone. Hope you had a great weekend! There was an awesome eclipse last night, did some of you see it? We bought our big guy a telescope for his birthday in the summer and it was one of the best presents we've ever bought. It's been super cool to check out the night sky with the kids and our big guy has taught us so much about space. A nice way to end off a great weekend.

I’ve recently joined the Netflix Stream Team and I’m very excited! We are Netflix addicts. Yup, addicts. Who watches cable anymore? Our kids are whizzes at figuring out what Netflix show they want to watch on the iPad and Mr. Fix-It and I are total binge watchers. We can’t help it. The shows are just awesome.  Being part of the Netflix Stream Team means that every month I’ll share with you the new tv shows, movies and series on Netflix. 

With the cooler air coming in, getting cozy on the couch with popcorn just feels right. For about 6 months we’ve been doing Family Movie Night in our house. It’s either Friday or Saturday depending on which night we’re home. We pull out the sofa bed in the tv room, load it up with pillows & blankets and the 5 of us watch a movie. They love it, we love it. Once the kids go to bed, Mr. Fix-It and I park ourselves back on the sofa bed, usually order in, open a bottle of wine and watch another Netflix movie. Wicked.

So…last weekend these were the top choices for the kids…

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey...Umm I remember watching this with my brother and my mom getting all teary. Yup, now I’m that mom. The kids loved the movie, about these three pets that escape from a California ranch to find their owners in San Francisco. It’s adorable, its cute and has it’s teary moments.  A good one to watch with the kids.

Then on Sunday, they got to watch another movie. The weather was so gorgeous in Ottawa that we spent most of Sunday outside. Around 3 o'clock they needed some much needed downtime (so did Mummy and Daddy). So they watched Nanny McFee Returns. Also super cute.  I love how they cuddle up together around the iPad.

 

I made them up a little Popcorn Bar

This is super easy and can also work for sleepovers. A bag of popcorn, cute popcorn boxes and candy. The kids each got their own popcorn box and added the candy in they wanted.  Honestly, if you have random candy hanging around the house (we definitely do) then just use those. No need to make it difficult.

I would love to know what your favourite family Netflix shows and movies are. I’ll be sharing our binge-watching favs soon, but we’re always looking for more to watch.

Keep It Beautiful Gets A Makeover + Soups On!

Hey everyone! Wow it's chilly in Ottawa today. Super cold! Bring on the down coats and furry hats.

Soooo, whatcha think? Keep It Beautiful has had a makeover! Like it? I wanted something fresh and clean. A new start for the blog for a new year. It still has kinks that I'm working on but wanted to show you what it's looking like so that I can still do blog posts as I'm working on the site in the background. You'll see that I added a new menu bar at the top with drop down buttons. However, you'll also see that when you click on them...there's nothing there yet. This is what I'm working on. My total lack of techy knowledge is what's holding me back on how to get these links to work. I'll get it figured out but bear with me! BTW, if you have a website that needs an update, I would be happy to recommend the company I used.

In the meantime, it's Wednesday Yummies! Here is a yummy soup that is delish, super healthy, filling and you can double the recipe to make alot! Win! Win!

Lentil Tomato & Kale Soup

 

I've been making this soup for years but just recently decided to add chopped kale in there. I chopped it up oh-so-tiny.

Soups On!

Keep it Beautiful.