25 weeks in Mexico

Two weeks ago, Matt and I had the great opportunity to travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to relax in the sand and sun, and marvel in the fact that we were on our Babymoon - celebrating one of the last vacations we will have kid-less.

Although we don't have many pictures from our trip (we misplaced our camera charger), we were able to get some pictures done by a friend at the resort to document our time together, as well as my pregnancy.

Seeing that I haven't posted belly pics in quite some time, I thought some of you might enjoy these. Although I am currently 27 weeks (and bigger now than I was two weeks ago), this is me at 25 weeks.

Let me know what you think!

Say Adios! to dry lips with Thursday Plantation's Tea Tree Lip Balm

Canadian winters are so unpredictable. Right now, it's -11 degrees outside, and according to my Weather Network app, it's going to be a scorching +21 degrees on Thursday. If that doesn't mess with your body, I don't know what will!

If you're anything like me, the winter does a number on my skin, from my hands to my feet, and my arms to legs, everything is dry.  But nothing compares to the damage the winter air does to my lips every season. Dry, cracked and flaky would be the three best words to describe how winter consistently treats my lips.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I was given a new product to try by a friend called Tea Tree Lip Balm by Thursday Plantation.  Growing up, I always knew about the power of tea tree oil, as my mom was a huge promoter (and still is) of Melaleuca products and melaleuca oil (tea tree oil comes from the melaleuca plant). But as a child, I obviously knew best and knew that something so smelly could NOT be good for you, so therefore I only used it when forced. Thankfully, I don't find the smell to be too strong at all anymore, and I have come to my senses and realized that the saying "Mother knows best" is true.

The Tea Tree Lip Balm has been a HUGE saving grace to my lips this winter. They have gone from dull and dry, to luscious and soft. The healing properties of tea tree oil are just unreal. And the easy to apply tube is great, as you can apply as much or as little lip balm as you'd like, without getting a gross, caked on feeling.

And the results are (almost) instantaneous. With just one or two applications, my lips feel soft and smooth, and are no longer chapped.

One of the things that is so great about the Tea Tree Lip Balm, is that it is free of synthetic parabens, petrochemicals, lauryl sulphates, polysorbates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic preservatives and synthetic colours. Although I don't know what half of those things are, I'm glad I'm not putting them on my lips! And it is only $6.00. Definitely a small price to pay for the investment you are making to your lips! Trust me, your lips will thank you!

Thursday Plantation also has a great line up of other personal products, from acne wash to lice shampoo, insect repellant to toothpaste and mouthwash, all the way to antiseptics and dog shampoo! I can't wait to try some of their face wash!

For more information, check out www.thursdayplantation.com and then visit www.abundancenaturally.com or Whole Foods to make your purchase!

As always, I love your comments and would love to hear about your winter skin care survival secrets. As well, let me know what Thursday Plantation products you try for yourself!

Goodbye, Joe. Parting is such sweet sorrow

I have this bad habit. I like to hold on to things - like, for a really long time. For some odd reason, and for as long as I can remember, I have found that I become attached to things and have a hard time giving them away.

Yes, I am one of those people who still has their grade six grammar pages and grade 12 biology and data management notes because, someday, I just might need them. I still have a Winnie the Pooh, styrofoam nameplate my best friend Kristine gave to me in grade five when I moved away to Waterloo, and a snow globe from NYC that a friend gave to me in high school.  For whatever reason, I get attached to them and feel as though they represent a special part of my life, therefore making it near impossible for me to get rid of anything.

This is also true for me when it comes to cars. Years ago when my dad traded in his Ford Expedition for a brand new (beautiful, might I add) Dodge Ram 2500 diesel, I cried. When the time came for the Dodge to be traded in for a Chrysler 300 ... I cried. And when it was time to say goodbye to our lovely Ford Windstar and hello to a 1999 Toyota Camry, once again ... yep you guessed it ... I cried. For me, cars represent different times in my life, and for whatever reason, I get extremely attached to them.

So I knew I was in for it when it was time to say goodbye to my 2000 Mazda Protege, named Joe, this Wednesday.

Joe was a great friend. Here he is displayed in all his dust, rust and glory. I bought Joe four years ago and he was probably one of the best investments I have ever made.

He was with me through 3 years of school, 3/4 of my dating relationship with Matt, my marriage, many shopping and leisure trips to Toronto, Buffalo and numerous other destinations, and was there for me whenever I needed him.  At the end of his life, he had 238,889 km on him. But with consistent car repairs, unknown strange noises and a new baby on the way, it was time to say goodbye.

So it was then our adventure began, or you could say Journey, as we searched and searched for a new car. We knew we needed an SUV, as we needed something with space for Hank, as well as something with towing capacity and room to move film equipment around. That was when we set our eyes on the Dodge Journey, the #1 selling cross-over vehicle in Canada.

We found our soon-to-be vehicle at Bustard Chrysler in Waterloo, and after a month of debate (and it still being on the lot!), we decided to make the biggest (so far) purchase of our life, and we couldn't be happier. Our new-to-us 2010 Dodge Journey R/T edition is everything we ever needed AND wanted in a vehicle, right down to the heated leather seats, sunroof and back-up camera, just to name a few.

I also want to give a big shout out to Derek Killins at Bustard Chrysler. He was with us all along the way, when we were unsure about buying it, all the way to our big purchase. The service he provided us was wonderful, and if anyone is looking for someone to purchase a car from, Derek is your man. (Just tell him Matt & Jacqueline sent you!)

The day I went to pick up the car, he took me through and introduced me to the entire staff, including Bill Bustard. Everyone there is super friendly and once again, exceptional service.

I won't lie, I felt like the biggest traitor handing my keys over to Derek and officially saying goodbye to Joe. He was a great friend, and even though we have been blessed with an AMAZING new car, I will still miss Joe.  Believe it or not though, there were no tears this time, just a bittersweet feeling as I said goodbye to a good companion.

All of that being said, I LOVE driving my new Journey!!

Now to find a new name for it!

Blue or Damask? That is the question ...

Last week we had the chance to once again see our beautiful baby, and from the looks of things, I'm going to be one busy momma! The baby was moving around so much in there, that the ultrasound tech actually had a hard time getting pictures at points!

I was hoping for creative pictures of my tummy to post this week, for the ultimate reveal ... but with the Last Run premiere coming up (if you don't have you tickets yet, get them NOW! www.lastrunthemovie.com) and a super crazy weekend, we just didn't have time. So I thought I'd post a video of how I told my dad.

Disclaimer: This video is NOT a High Rise Studio production - haha. I just wanted to clarify, as the quality  is 100% sub par :)

Needless to say ... it looks like there will be lots of blue in our future!

We're especially excited, as the Cyr family hasn't had a boy in the family for almost 15 years!

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely freaking out at the moment, as I have absolutely NO idea what to do with boys, but I know I'll figure it out as I go!

What was some of the best advice you received/can give about having a boy??

What's for Dinner Wednesday - Manhattan Clam Chowder

I'm always on the look out for new recipes, so I was super excited when the girls over at Shaw Media gave me Chef Michael Smith's Kitchen - 100 of my Favourite Easy Recipes cookbook as a going away gift on my last day.

Chef Michael has some awesome recipes, that taste delicious and are super easy to make. Tonight I made my first attempt at clam chowder, and it turned out great!! This one is a little different than the usual clam chowder, as it has a tomato base instead of cream, making it a much lighter dish. You can use it as a starter, but because it's so hearty, you can eat it as a main course too.

I thought I would share the recipe in case you wanted something nice and easy to make on these super dreary & cold days we've been having lately!

MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER


Serves 4 to 6

2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped (I only had a red onion in my cupboard, so I used that instead of yellow)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 baking potato, peeled and diced
2 cans (each 5 ounces/142 g) of clams
1 can (28 ounces/796 mL) of chopped tomatoes
2 cups (500 mL) of tomato juice
1 teaspoon (5 mL) of dried thyme
A sprinkle or two of salt and lots of freshly ground pepper
1 cup (250 mL) of chopped fresh parsley (about 1 bunch)


Splash the olive oil into your favourite soup pot and heat it over meadium-high heat. Sauté the onions, garlic, celery and bell pepper until they're bright and tender but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add the potato, clams and their liquid, tomatoes, tomato juice and thyme and bring everything to a boil.  Reduce the heat so the liquid is just barely simmering and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. (It took about 30 minutes for me, so just test the potato as you go!)


Just before serving, season the soup to your taste with salt and pepper.  Stir in the parsley at the last second to preserve its fresh aromatic flavour. Serve and share!

KITCHEN TIP
Fresh parsley is often overlooked as a herb and tends to be thought of as just a pretty garnish. In fact it's packed with aromatic flavours that brighten this soup and many other dishes. Because its flavours are delicate, parsley is best when it's added last - too much heat will damage and diminish its brightness.


I hope it's as delicious for you as it was for me! As always, I love your feedback. Feel free to comment in the comment section below and let me know how yours turned out!

Bigger & Bigger - Week 17

Not much to say this week! Although, I do feel like my belly grew over night. And people are noticing!

So excited for January 23rd when we can find out what this little munchkin is going to be!

Here are a few pics of the belly! The cool lights in the background are the CN Tower. We thought it was a nice touch!

Post Christmas Wrap-Up (or Un-Wrap!)

Well, it is December 28th and another Christmas has come and gone. It always amazes me how quickly Christmas can sneak up on you, and then all of a sudden we are at the start of a new year.

This Christmas was such a wonderful time for me, as I was able to finally connect with my family again, after being away for two months. Man, have I ever missed them.

I was reminded this past week just how blessed I am to have the family that I have. I was blown away by their love and generosity and willing hearts this Christmas. I don't know about you, but this year I had nothing on my Christmas list. NOTHING. I couldn't think of a single thing of what I needed/wanted this year, and because of that, I really didn't give anyone any ideas whatsoever. I figured there probably wouldn't be much under the tree for me this year, but I was 100% okay with that. There are others out there that are way more in need than I am.

Needless to say, without even having a list, my family blessed my socks off with their thoughtfulness and love. I now have a (partially) full wardrobe of beautiful maternity clothes that I would have never bought for myself (mainly because I'm cheap and maternity clothes well... aren't). I think Matt was the happiest because he won't be hearing me complain for a while that I have nothing to wear!

I have to share with you though, one of the most special gifts I received this year. It just went to show me that sometimes gifts from the heart make the most unique and special gifts.

There was a bag under the tree marked "To Mommy & Baby, From Grandma." I already had a gift waiting to be opened, so my mom (Grandma) decided to let Matt open it, explaining that I would understand the significance once I saw it. I couldn't imagine what my mom could be giving me already for the baby, but when Matt opened it, tears immediately sprung to my eyes. It was my first ever Christmas stocking. I had actually thought she had found one at a store and picked it up, because it was in such pristine condition. Then I realized it was the original and my mom had kept it in safe keeping for 24 years. She smiled at me and said, "Now you can use this as your baby's first stocking." Just the idea that my mom had kept this for so long, and then decided to hand it down to our baby blew me away. I'm so excited to be able to use this for our "Ninababy" and then have him/her be able to pass it down to their child, 20-some odd years from now.

The picture doesn't really do it justice (makes it look kind of creepy, actually), but I promise you it's the cutest! His little overalls open, so you can stuff them with loads of gifts! And if you really wanted, you could use it as a teddy bear. Hard to believe that next Christmas we'll have a 6 month old baby to spend it with!

I hope that your Christmas was filled with family, fun and food. I know mine was. And that you were reminded about the true meaning of Christmas.

I'd love to hear about what were you blessed with this Christmas season!