Seven

       

My sweet girl is SEVEN today.
I can't believe it.
Seven years ago my life changed forever in the best way possible.
Although you challenge me like no one else, you make me so proud each and everyday.
I love watching you grow into this beautiful, loving and creative girl!
You have been through a lot in your short life and your are the bravest person I know.
You love music and art and say you want to be a Lawyer and a Singer when you grow up.
I love your giant hugs and how you make me kiss each of your hands before you go to school so you can press them on your cheeks to think of me during the day when you miss me.
I had the best time getting our nails done together today. 
<3
Here are some photos from Emma's PJ/Spa Party we had this past weekend.


  





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A reminder to myself


Happy Monday :)

I was going through my blog drafts and found this one from back in 2013 and I had to post it.
This was back when Luca was about 4 months old and he participated in a program called Roots Of Empathy at our daughters school.
I brought Luca to a kindergarten class once a month so the children could observe him and all the new milestones he had reached. 
The program is designed to teach children empathy by raising social/emotional competence and reducing levels of aggression among school aged children.
 So much has happened since this photo was taken and its making me all emotional to write about it.
Since this post we've moved into a new house, sold that house, bought a new house and moved to a new city.
Ive gone back to work, then quit, then went back to work again.
Emma started French Immersion then switched back to Public school then over to the Catholic board.
It has been a very busy 2 years and I didn't realize how much has happened and how fast my babies are growing right in front of my very eyes until I came upon this post.
Luca was just a baby here.
A baby who couldn't walk or talk yet and now he is old enough to run and speak in full sentences.
I often call him my baby but looking at this photo has made me see how much he has changed and grown into a smart little boy.
Our oldest is turning 7 this week and our middle child will be 5 the following week.
Time is going by too fast and these kids of mine are getting more mature and grown up everyday.
This is a great reminder to myself to stop and enjoy.
Enjoy the good and the bad.
When Luca is throwing a tantrum, like most two year olds do, I promise to remember to be supportive and not upset because this is a phase that will soon pass.
When Audrey is being annoyingly silly and having trouble listening I promise to be more patient and supportive because this is a phase that will soon pass.
When Emma, our oldest, is giving me attitude because she thinks she's 16 now that she's in grade one, I will remember to teach her kindness instead of shaming her for her trying to figure herself out.




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Social Common Live & A Follow Friday



"Other women who are killing it should motivate you, thrill you, challenge you and inspire you."
~Taylor Swift~

Have you guys heard of Social Common?
If not you need to check them out....like yesterday!
Social Common was formed by two of the most beautiful and hilarious women you will ever meet, Catherine & Natalie.
They started Social Common as an "event club" for moms who wanted more than your typical mommy group play dates and it has turned into so much more! 
Every Tuesday night Natalie and Catherine have a live youtube broadcast they created called Social Common Live where they bring the real, uncensored side of motherhood.
If you haven't watched it before you can check it out here.
I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the show this week and it was a blast!
I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.
The show is filmed at Natalie's GORGEOUS home in Toronto.
It was a much needed night out with a house full of the most inspiring women and that is exactly what Social Common is all about. 
Bringing inspiring women & mamas together and empowering each other! 
Natalie & Catherine were the sweetest and instantly made me feel like we had been friends for years....even after I spilled red wine all over the floor....oops!!
I also met some other incredible women who I have talked to every day since.
You hear a lot of negative talk about Social Media.
That the next generations won't know how to hold a conversation or make friends.
The next time someone talks about how Social Media is ruining generations to come lets remember how Social Media can bring us together. 
How it can help us meet other like minded inspiring individuals and form friendships that would've never come to be other wise.
I'd like to leave off with a little Follow Friday by sharing 4 women who I have met through Social Media who inspire me and I know will inspire you too!



Renee M Leblanc
(top left)

I met Renee a couple of months ago at my nieces birthday party.
She walked into the birthday party and although she was sporting yoga pants and a top knot (and still looked better than I do when I spend hours getting ready) I recognised her immediately.
It was a little embarrassing because when she introduced herself to me I already knew exactly who she was from following her blog and instagram! haha
She is a lifestyle blogger with three beautiful kiddos sharing her love of fashion and design.
She is super down to earth and and inspires me to get out of my ugly mom jeans and dress up a little haha

Rebecca Heart
(top right)

I met Rebecca this week at #socialcommonlive
She writes a blog over at The Bargain Brat and has the most inspiring Instagram Page.
She is a mother of the cutest little 1 year old and a musician!!
In her blog she shows you that you don't have to break the bank to live in Style.

Erica Schott
(bottom left)

Erica is another inspiring mama I met at #socialcommonlive this past week.
She is an Occupational Therapist at a centre for addiction and mental illness, yoga lover and mother of an adorable two year old, Morris.
She writes a blog over at Annageorgianna.
She also has a very inspiring Instagram Page where she shares everything from the cutest photos of her son to her very honest posts about struggling with fertility.

Mandy

I also met Mandy from Sparkle Shiny Love at #socialcommonlive.
She is the mom of one and writes an amazing lifestyle blog for hip urban moms.
She is so sweet and has such a fun energy!!
She loves shopping and anything sparkly.


Im always looking for new inspiring blogs & would love to know who inspires you!
Let me know in the comments below or on my Instagram Page


Kelsey ox







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One of those days


                   Happy Saturday ❤️
It's not so happy around our house today. 
We had our niece over to watch a movie late last night which was wonderful but today all the kids are overtired as a result and pretty much everything and anything is bringing them to tears today.
 There are days where I think to myself "I'm really kicking ass at this parenting gig" then days like today where I don't know how I'll survive another day of motherhood. 
It's been a long day and we're all tired and need to just hit the reset button.
We called up my in laws who live right around the corner from our new house and they were kind enough to agree to come over once the kids go to sleep tonight so Louis and I can sneak away on a much needed and long overdue movie & dinner date night. 
I want to make date nights, inside or outside of the home, a priority for 2016.
Its easy for romance to get put on the back burner when your raising young children but its so important.
If our marriage is strong then our parenting will be even stronger.

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Nap time.


Luca is 2.5 now and does everything he can to avoid taking his nap. He knows all the tricks in the book - "can I lay in moments bed?" Or "I'm thirsty" are regular distraction tools. When did your little ones stop napping? I'm Not quite ready to let go of those naps yet as it means my last baby is getting older.  
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Spa Birthday Party Inspiration

January is a crazy busy month for our family.
Were just getting settled after the craziness the holidays bring then its straight into birthday mode.
My husband, myself, my daughter and my grandma all share January birthdays along with some of our friends and extended family. 
Right after that our second born daughter has a birthday February 2nd.
It is BUSY.
Last year we skipped birthday parties all together and went on a family birthday vacation to Niagara Falls instead.
It was so nice to get away for the weekend as a family to celebrate one another and forget about all the chaos planning parties brings.
This year our oldest daughter is turning 7 and she asked for a birthday party - a non shared birthday party to be precise. 
We have always thrown our girls birthday parties together since their birthdays are only 6 days apart.
I knew the day would come that they wanted to celebrate on their own so we sat down and started brainstorming some themes.
Emma really wanted to have a sleepover birthday but I'm not quite ready for that just yet so we compromised on a Spa Themed Pajama Party later in the evening so it feels like a sleepover.
We hopped on Pinterest and started pinning our favourite ideas.

Here are some of our favourite ideas :)
























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My little Scientists

If you are looking for a fun and educational place to bring your children, the Ontario Science Centre is the place to go.
Kids are natural scientists, they love to ask questions to figure out how things work and my kids are no exception.
When we went on our road trip to Montreal a couple of years ago I took my kids to the Montreal Science Centre and they still talk about it to this day and ask when we can go back.
I wrote a post back in April about buying season passes to the Ontario Science Centre here in Toronto and we have been many times since, learning something new and exciting each visit.
I feel so fortunate to live an hours drive to somewhere as amazing as this where the kids can run around to burn some energy while learning.
This past weekend we invited some friends to tag along with us for the fun!
Each membership allows 4 children to come with the adult cardholder for free which is a great perk!
After each visit my oldest daughter Emma asks if I can home school her so we can go to the Science Centre every day haha.
Here are some photos from our last visit.


Lunch Time



Dr. Audrey listening to her friends heart beat.
    

This dance floor is a favourite for our family. 
We practically have to drag them off of this.


Rock Climbing Wall.




Future Astronauts
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Happy Bachelor Monday


HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE.
I should be grumpy today because its the first day back to the grind after a wonderful 2 weeks off with the family but instead I'm so excited because its.....
BACHELOR MONDAY.
Yup....I'm one of those dedicated bachelor fans and I'm so not sorry.
It's my one night a week where I get to shut off mommy mode and watch some great drama on tv with my friends.
If I'm being honest I was hoping Nick Viall was going to be this years bachelor but I'm excited to watch this season with Ben H.
I hear Becca from Chris Soules season is back which I'm pretty excited about!
There is also a set of twins this season which I'm predicting will count as one rose, at least for the first night.
Here are my top 5 pics for the first night!

Will you be watching the Bachelor?


Amanda


Becca


Jennifer


Lauren


Shushauna
(She's a mathematician!!!) 







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2016

Happy New Year Everyone! 
I hope everyone had a great NYE surrounded by loved ones.
This was the first NYE celebrating with friends in our new home.
We usually celebrate in our pjs watching Netflix and fall asleep well before midnight.
This year I'm glad we were surrounded by friends when the clock struck 12.
I didn't make any real resolutions this year except to continue to grow as a mother, wife , friend, daughter etc. and to try to focus on the positive and not allow negative thoughts, energy or people into our lives.
2015 was full of surprises and I can't wait to see what 2016 brings.



ox
Kelsey

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