The Casual Stay at Home

Mardi Gras and Claire's 4th Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:21:00 +0000

This holiday weekend was a busy time in our house. Our good friends decided to throw a Mardi Gras party and like all their parties it was fantastic. We used Uber, stayed out a little late, ate and drank a lot. We haven't gone to a party in quite some time so it was just really fun to let loose. My sister and brother in law were in town so they joined in on the fun. What helps with a late night hangover? What about a children's birthday party!

Besides dealing with a slight headache the next day I was really pumped on decorating and hosting Claire's 4th birthday party. We had never had a birthday party for her before and it really turned out to be a fun time for all. Claire was so very excited and had talked about her party for oh at least a month. For me it was just a really fun thing to plan. I found many YouTube and Pinterest DIY crafts and went to work last week! You honestly can find almost anything DIY on those two sites. We used Something Enchanted and hired Cinderella to come make a guest appearance.

The adults were able mingle and have some wine while the kids were focused on some serious princess time. Cinderella was kind enough to bring some crafts for the boys so they could feel included as well. Claire could not believe that Cinderella was in our house!

Overall the party was a blast and clean up wasn't too bad. I bought most of the party supplies from Party City and DIY'd most of the decor. Gotta hand it to Party City however, they literally have everything you could think of.

With two big events this weekend. I am excited to get back to normal and back into the old routine. I cannot believe Claire is 4 already, Happy Birthday Claire!

for more pictures read below....

Awesome spread no?

Nik just having a beer by himself. whomp whomp

You know my husband is having a good time when he gets the guts to dance with a bunch of girls

Tissue Pom Poms I made. oh yea!

the gorgeous cake my friend made for Claire, Looks professional no?

Claire having a little one on one time with Cinderella

Promise she is happy!

Paso Robles Wine Country

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:55:00 +0000

Tobin James Tasting Room

As you know I love wine. I think most people do naturally. This was our second year in a row traveling to a new wine region with my in-laws and it proved again to be a great time. I knew Paso Robles was a great wine region but did not realize that there are over 300 wineries! Insane and exciting! We rented the most amazing house downtown called "on the vine". It was this old victorian home decorated as if it were in a Restoration Hardware catalog. I just loved it. You can find the rental here: Paso Robles Vacation Rentals. It was in the perfect location to walk to town or hop in our car to head to a winery.

Beautiful right?!

It was hard to go to wineries with the kids because it's boring for them so we were only able to go to 2 or 3 wineries a day before we had meltdown city. Nevertheless I felt like we got a nice sampling of the area and I plan to come back again soon (without the kids).

The wineries we went to included: Tobin James, J Dusi, Summerwood, Cypher, Halter Ranch, Justin, and Daou (which we immediately joined their wine club).

The most beautiful winery award went to DAOU for sure, the views were incredible and the wines were some of the best I tried. Justin was very charming and we just love and have been wine club members for a couple of years. They all were very nice and for New Years it wasn't as crowded as you would think which was also nice.

We went to two excellent restaurants while there Thomas Hill Organics and Artisan. Both were just incredible!

The drive was so short for us and the town was quaint and relaxing without huge crowds. We didn't have time to try Firestone Brewery but we have added it to our list for our next getaway weekend. That's the great thing about living in California you can have an easy and quick trip without the hassle of flying!

Skip the jump to see more photos from our trip!

Tom was over Tobin James

Claire approaching J Dusi

Yay there is a winery dog, we will harass him to death

A dog and rocks? What could be better?!

One big happy family at J Dusi

Cypher Winery

Tom getting comfortable in Cypher

The kids over it at Summerwood

Justin Winery

Bored at Halter Ranch

Tom hid in a corner because he couldn't take it anymore

The views and Claire at Daou

Running at Daou

Barbie Cinderella has asked for a tasting

Tom yelling at people at Daou

Group shot at Justin

Claire at the rental

Running at Daou

Tom is enjoying himself

Ready for a night on the town

Thomas Hill Organics. I want that sign in my house

Cousins hanging out together

If you are thinking of checking out Paso Robles, do it! I was a fabulous time had by all!

Fitness Tracker Review

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000

at the Toys for Tots Jingle Bell Run/Walk

This year Nik and I participated in the Jingle Bell Run through Old Fig Garden in December. I walked with the kids since I do not enjoy running and Nik ran the 5k. As a family we try to stay active or rather Nik and I try to stay healthy and exercise as much as we can the kids just run around regardless. The holidays are always the worst for us however as we just drink wine and don't pay attention to what we eat. It's fun and I just shrug my shoulders and take care of the weight gain in January. Regardless of social obligations we continue to at least keep up our exercise regimen because nothing feels worse then going back to the gym after a couple months off. So we try to negate that feeling.

As you know I regularly swim, cross train, and attend the Bar Method as often as I can. I have moved from being a cardio junkie to actually working to burn fat and build muscle. Nik has taken up running and plans to run the Avenger Half Marathon at Disneyland in November. Or at least that is what I tell him his goal should be so we can go to Disneyland after.

For Christmas this year I got a Fitbit and I bought Nik the Tom Tom Cardio Watch to track his runs and pace. My old polar heart rate monitor bit the dust so I figured the fitbit could take its place no problem.

I loved my Polar Heart Rate Monitor because it told me my heart rate and my calorie burn so it was excellent for days I didn't want to workout but I would see that I only burned 200 calories and I would stay at least until I burned 300. It pushed me. The fitbit is different. I have the flex and it tracks my steps and sleep. I have it linked up to myfitnesspal and I have connected with some friends who have the Fitbit so we challenge each other to hit 10,000 steps a day. What it doesn't track is my fitness. When I use it in the Bar Method it shows I haven't exerted myself for that hour. I also can't swim with it (I couldn't swim with the polar either) It doesn't track my heart rate so I don't get the entire picture with Fitbit.

With that said I want to combine my heart rate monitor and my everyday fitness tracker. A couple watches come to mind if you are looking to invest in the same kind of product. The Misfit Shine is a watch that while doesn't have a heart rate monitor per say you can wear it in the pool and input your activities. However the one I truly want is the Fitbit Charge HR. It tracks calories, activities, steps climbed etc, but not sure if you can swim with it. It incorporates all aspects of a healthy lifestyle right at your fingertips.

So depending on what you are looking for there is a fitness watch out there for everyone. There are now even Health Insurance companies that are jumping on the trend and giving their members fitness trackers. One that I have heard about is Oscar Health Insurance in New Jersey and New York. Oscar uses technology and design to give members the tools to be proactive about their health...

With that said they actually give out a Misfit Fitness tracker to each new member! They also have an app that members can use to search for providers and have a 24/7 doctor on call feature. Very cool.

So there you have it. Speaking of New Year's resolutions I just want to say that I have gone one month without wine! It was incredibly hard to do but I am so proud I was able to do it. Just a small challenge I gave myself as I went into the New Year. Until next time....

Coordinating Colors for Family Photo Shoots

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:25:00 +0000

The kids clearly cooperating

One of my favorite thing to do each year is take a family portrait. There are so many talented professional photographers out there it is pretty easy to find someone you connect with. I love the work of so many local photographers I sometimes switch up who we use just to see what they can do a little differently than the last photographer.

This year we went with Michelle Bentzen in Fresno, CA. She doesn't have a website but does have a Facebook profile. She is the sister of a member of Junior League, which I am a part of, so I decided to try her out. Her work is really incredible she takes some gorgeous shots.

Once the session is booked I like to come up with a new color theme. Nothing monochromatic, monochromatic is boring to me. I start by just choosing two or three colors that I like from the same family of colors. For example this year we went with jewel tones, last year was red and black.

Once I choose my color palette a few months ahead (like I said family pics are fun for me) I then look online until I find one piece whether a dress, sweater, or shirt then work around that particular piece. This year it was Claire's cool tights and bright green dress. When I saw that outfit I knew that I wanted her outfit to stick out the most and decided on maroon and different shades of green to compliment her outfit. Her tights were awesome and I knew would stick out in the photos. While our shades are not the exact they each compliment each other.

Don't be afraid to mix patterns, bright colors look great in outdoor shoots. The only trouble we ran into was our 2 year old Thomas who was a maniac the entire photo shoot. I was shocked our photographer got as great of pictures as she did. #miracleworker

Here are a few more from the shoot as you can see it is really hard to get two toddlers to corporate in a photo shoot. However I actually love them because it really depicts their crazy personalities. No family is perfect!

I haven't been blogging due to my schedule that has me going insane sometimes. I do miss it and miss writing about the kids so as always I will try my best. We have Claire's birthday coming up and excited to share some pictures from how I plan to decorate for her party. Until next time!

The Challenge to Eat Clean Each Week

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 14:00:00 +0000

So my family and I just came back from San Diego. It was a great time, we spent time with family and then Nik and I went to a work conference. Since I have not been to a work event in years or a conference in years I forgot how much they want you to eat. Ok maybe they don't want you to pound food all day, but I sure felt that way.

Margaritas before dinner

Since all the food was free I was going to live it up the 5days I was there. I think I ate every hour and then would drink wine/cocktails with a huge dinner after the day was over. I gave myself the time off of working out and wanted to let myself enjoy this time to eat and drink. The thing is by the 5th day I just couldn't even think of food, but because I had stuffed myself I woke up starving even though the night before I was so full I had a hard time sleeping.

I haven't given myself that much time off to go crazy in the last few years because I was always trying to lose the baby weight, yet I almost always used to binge like that with food when on vacation. Yes I had so many incredible meals but inevitably I over did it.

It sort of taught me a lesson. I normally eat pretty decent during the week and allow myself to have the weekends off but I don't go nearly as crazy as I did in San Diego. Ultimately this way of living combined with working out has helped me slowly get back to a good shape. I ate so bad in San Diego yet the second I came home and went back to my moderation policy meant that my habits stuck with me, which is great. I just cannot go crazy like that, it just didn't feel good. Maybe it's because I am older and I just notice things more, or maybe it is because I lead somewhat of a healthy lifestyle and 5 days in a row of bad habits it just too much. In any regard it made me think more about taking my healthy eating further.

I am a snacker by nature. I don't eat big meals, I graze all day, and have smaller lunches and dinners. But I also just snack too much. The snacks aren't always filling and yes I hit that chocolate bowl too much at work. There is always room for improvement.

I also want to see more definition from all the swimming and Bar Method I have been doing. I know it is incredibly hard for me to follow a strict eating plan but what if I started working in more protein during the week and less snacky carbs, loose some of that water weight and fat.

That is where I found the site www.paleoplan.com. It is pretty affordable and I do cook dinners pretty often anyways. The gist is that each week you are emailed a weekly meal plan and workout routine. Since I already like my workout schedule I am more sticking to the meal plan. I like how I have easy access to recipes, and there is no searching endlessly on Pinterest for meals for the week (which I do every Sunday). Plus the recipes look very filling, easy, and good.

I love how you can find nutrition experts (Prescribe Nutrition-which is another fabulous program), meal plans, meal delivery options (blue apron), etc online now. It makes honing in your eating habits that much more affordable and easier. I will be starting to incorporate this plan into my life over the next few weeks and I will let you know if I can keep it a habit, see results, or fall back into my snacky lifestyle.

Are there any good programs you have tried recently?

Here are some pics from Coronado where Tom was too exhausted from a fun filled day to enjoy the beach.

Great New Denim and Tee Shirt Shopping Sites and Life Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 21:16:00 +0000

www.dstldjeans.com

So I was looking through my closet the other day and realized I only had about 2 pair of jeans that sort of fit me right now. It's not like I went through a huge body change, I haven't dropped a lot of weight, but the Bar Method has helped me get back to my pre Claire state. With that said I had Claire about 3 and a half years ago and most of my jeans I purchased in 2009 when I got married. Needless to say they seem dated to me. The jeans I purchased last year are comfortable but sort of get that saggy butt syndrome after a while of wearing them. Now that I feel more like my old self I wanted to invest in some really good jeans. All of this lead me to DSTLD Jeans.

The back story that lead me to these jeans came from one of the best tee shirt websites out there, Everlane. You cannot beat these prices. I am a huge fan of basics and there is nothing more basic then tee shirts and jeans. Everlane is a company that has a factory in Los Angeles and delivers straight to your door from the factory. According to Everlane buying straight from the factory has its advantages: "In traditional retail a designer shirt is marked up 8x by the time it reaches the customer. By being online only, we eliminate brick-and-mortar expenses and pass these savings on to you."

I have ordered 3 tee shirts and 1 tank top from Everlane and I really can attest to the quality of the fabric. $15 dollars for a tee shirt that does not stretch out, doesn't shrink after you wash it, and is soft to the touch is just ridiculous to me. I love it, I love these tee's. They do sell other products such as sweatshirts, button down shirts, as well as bags. I plan on purchasing more items in the fall when the weather cools down. You can find all these products here: www.everlane.com.

After getting tee's at a great rate I wondered if this was a trend in the clothing industry. When I found DSTLD Jeans I was so excited because it is a very similar concept so perhaps it is a new trend! DSTLD offers designer quality jeans for only $65. Insane! Not only that you can get a free trial at home. You can order 3 different pairs of jeans, wear them for 10 days, keep the jeans you like and send back the jeans you don't like. Only then will you be charged. Seriously so amazing. I never order jeans online, I have to be in a store to try them on because all brands and sizes are different. Even the same brand I am two different sizes. The fact I can test run these is great. Hopefully they will fit and look good because they will have a client for quite some time! You can shop or try it out for yourself here: www.dsldjeans.com.

Using a step ladder for our family shoot-Our Family the latest pic

As far as life lately it's been nutty. But in a good way. I have continued to go to the Bar Method about 3 days a week and earned myself some Century socks! They gave these out to clients who hit 100 or more classes. I was pretty excited! And today in class I managed to push out 25 pushups on my toes! This was even after doing an arm series with weights. I am seeing strength in areas I never thought I would be able to see, its really a great feeling. I am a cardio queen no more! In addition to the Bar Method I have been doing a 2000 yard swim 1-2 times a week. My friend was a big swimmer growing up and I love to swim although I am not very fast, I like it more then running however. My friend has been meeting me at the club pool, writing out our workouts, and swimming along with me. She is a tough coach let me just tell you! I can barely get out of the pool after our one hour swim. Afterwards we take the kids out of the day care to swim and get lunch by the pool, it is really turning out to be a great summer! On top of it all I am working 3 days a week so these weeks just fly by.

I have attached two pictures. I should have done before and after but I suppose this is the best I have. Before Bar Method it was very hard to bring my stomach down from Tom no matter what I did and I felt weak. With Bar Method I feel like I have tightened and re-strenghten my ab muscles very deep inside and that strength has really brought that baby pooch down to normal. It is HARD getting your body back from having two almost back to back pregnancies, or any pregnancy really. Hardest thing for me to accomplish. So if you need some inspiration I hope this helps. You don't necessarily need to do Bar Method but I def saw the most changes in my body from a weight inspired workout.

Now that I have a tripod I may use to show more of a comparison as time goes on. Plus it will be nice to not use a step ladder :) I hope everyone is doing great and go check out those sites!

Left in October 2013 and Right is July 20th 2014

Get Togethers Pulled Together Fast and Cousin Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000

If you know Nik and I you know that we neglected to register for serving ware when we got married to have in our home. We weren't having that many get togethers in our apartment in Chicago so there was never really a need to have all the serving ware it never really crossed our minds. Now however that is not the case. I love hanging out with my friends but throwing a get together is not my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong I love having people over, but I am not good at the whole presentation side.

For instance for Claire's 3rd birthday I contemplated having a birthday party at our house. After looking on Pinterest for a couple of hours I became so overwhelmed on all I needed for a party that I nixed the idea and instead we went for pizza.

But the more friends I make here in town the more I want to host small parties. I had the perfect excuse to throw a party when my sister in law came into town. She sells Beautycounter and asked if I would host a social. Naturally I said yes because I absolutely LOVE their products and how they lack dangerous chemicals. To shop her store just go to Beautycounter.

Having waited until the last minute I quickly ran over to Cost Plus to buy a few items as I wanted to make the party nice but I didn't want to go out and buy a ton of stuff. At Cost Plus I bought the table runner, and a water dispenser to hold some Strawberry Lemonade, I also picked up some paper straws. The flowers and succulents are from Trader Joe's. I have been into succulents lately because its the only plant I have been able to keep alive. Plus they come in so many pretty colors. I bought them in small pots and when I got them home I thought they looked silly sitting on the table by themselves. Thats where those fun coffee mugs came into play. They had the same color scheme and were decorated with pictures of our family. I used those to hold the succulents in the ugly brown pots. It gave the table another colorful element that received a lot of compliments!

I used some of the paper straws I bought at Cost Plus put some labels on them from Tiny Prints. I used those as decor for the strawberry lemonade.

The party turned out great. After we mingled around the cocktail and app table we moved to the living room where we heard the Beautycounter presentation. I was so enthralled with entertaining and listening to the presentation I forgot to take pictures with my camera. But you can get the jist from my iPhone pics.

A succulent in a personalized mug

Straws from Cost Plus, Labels from Tiny Prints

Aren't Peonies the prettiest?!

After the little party we continued with our annual cousin fun weekend! The kids did crafts that aunt Aerial purchased at Michaels and Nik and I enjoyed some wine outside before the real heat set in. Overall the party was a success, the kids had fun, and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Hitting the Beach with the Family Memorial Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Memorial Weekend

Last weekend we traveled again to Carmel to have a fun beach weekend. The first day we were there though it was cold and foggy so it looked as if the dream of a warm weekend was gone. However you never know on the coast. Claire and Tom got their nice hawaiian outfits from their grandparents who had just gone on a trip there. Tom had his second experience with sand and well it just did not go very well. He was frozen on a part of the towel that no sand went near. If it touched him he would cry and want his dad to hold him. We are hoping eventually he will start to play with the sand toys.

Naturally it was filled with wine and good food and some exercise. If you go to the coast always pack for multiple seasons. On the beach it started as a cool day then progressively got hot, and most of us ended up with sunburns on our parts we forgot to put lotion. In addition to not starting out in cooler clothing.

Tom on his Island of Misery

Janie and Jack Shirt

I will be continuing my series on fun things to do in Carmel soon. But to get started here is my most recent post: Carmel by the Sea

Finding the Right Shirt and Tie for the Man in Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Wed, 21 May 2014 17:26:00 +0000

Paul Fredrick

My husband wears a suit and tie to work every single day. For the most part men have it easy. They can get a few basic suit sets that will last a few years and then interchange their dress shirts and ties. He has some work headshots coming up and we were discussing ways he can wear a good shirt and tie combo that won't scream trendy. The thing with headshots is that you want to use them for years to come. At least I would think 4 years until styles drastically change and well you just get a new set.

I found this site: Organic Headshots which have some great tips on making your headshot look natural and classic.

I came across Paul Fredrick as they have some great combinations of ties and dress shirts that are very classic in nature. I love the look above as well as some of these below. They recently launched their summer collection and there are some great light weight pieces in there for the man in your life. I had a hard time looking at men in suits in the summer while living in Chicago because it just looked painfuly stuffy and hot. So obviously lightweight fabrics are the way to go. Also you can't get a better deal then 3 shirts for $169!

You can find all their new summer shirts here: Paul Fredrick

Learning How to Dress well with Clinton Kelly. Macy's Style Show

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 19 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Of course the most important picture of the day is blurry

Have you ever wondered if you were dressing right for your body type? I always do. I always try to accentuate areas I am happy with and disguise areas that well I'd naturally rather hide. Some fashion trends I love on other people I know for a fact won't work with my body type. I also know some basic rules of putting a nice outfit together. I know how to dress my age. I know how to play up the accessory. I know how to put touches on an outfit to move it from day to night, which I use most when I travel so I don't have to pack as much.

I also love Clinton Kelly. I watched What not to Wear all the time on TLC while it aired and loved the advice he and Stacy gave to these chosen women who had no idea how to dress their bodies. It also reminds me of living in San Francisco having a lazy Sunday with my roommate/best friend watching marathon sessions with wine.

I honestly took the advice Clinton and Stacy gave their "clients" on the show when I went shopping myself. It stuck with me even in the chubby aftermath of having two kids almost back to back and extremely slow weight loss. Since having kids and getting back to a somewhat more comfortable figure I notice that I carry my weight all over rather then my hips and legs like I did when I was younger (teens and 20's). That's where seeing Clinton Kelly's show at Macy's in Fresno, CA came into play.

I rallied up some girlfriends and got tickets to the show. I have seen Clinton's new show "The Chew" a few times and really enjoyed watching. It is a nice lighthearted talk show which airs in the afternoon. Reminds me of taking care of Tom as a newborn and going to the gym. Although watching the cooking segments was tough while I was exercising because it all looked soo good! Anywho...

We arrived early as you can see so we walked around the women's department.

Me and my friend just hanging around taking pics

Oh look some mocktails and snacks while we wait

Just wasting some time

Got some great seats!

Our seats were great, and the show was really informative and inspiring. Clinton came out and spoke to the audience before the fashion show. I knew he was funny but I forgot until he started to talk about Fresno and the funny looks he got at the airport because he was dressed up (not really "dressed up", he was in a nice summer suit and button down). He made a note that everyone here is so casual which is why they were probably staring at him. Following his opening came a fashion show where he showcased outfits for millennial's, women my age (30-40), and mature. He also included "curvy" women or as I like to say normal which was great. After the show there was time for questions then a meet and greet.

I took some notes and wanted to share them with you as there are some great tips for all of us to take away.

You can wear all one color. Just make it different using texture, pattern, shine. Then a model came out in all white with multiple textures making the outfit not look like a uniform.

Pencil skirts are a great staple item. Ruching is your friend, as it will hide any lumps and bumps, tummies etc...He mentioned Ralph Lauren makes a fabulous ruching dress perfect for work or parties in multiple colors and patterns. (I actually saw they had these dresses at TJ Max so am planning on picking up some).

Colors to avoid: Bright reds will bring the red out in your face, Lemon yellow also brings out red tones in your face. Black is hard to wear during the day as it can cast shadows on your face making you look older.

Moto Jackets are really in style and can be worn by multiple generations like this jacket here: Eileen Fisher

Stiletto Pants are big which are essentially skinny pants that go to the ankle. All body types can wear these. If you are self conscious of how snug it is in the butt go with a bigger top that ends at the widest part of your bottom. That way it cuts you off at the most flattering area.

You can mix prints, say stripes and flowers. But stick to the same color tone when doing so.

Wrap dresses are flattering on everyone.

You can take a dress that is brightly colored from day to night or if you go to say a party that starts in daylight and ends at night by adding silver shoes and jewelry or black shoes.

If you are bigger on the bottom keep things streamlined. Don't wear cropped pants if you are say 5'4" and shorter unless you wear a heel and do NOT tuck in your shirt with cropped if you are said height as it will make you look short and squat.

Anyone under 5'7" needs a tailor. Now this was huge he said all sizes are made from one bust form and only 7% of the population match these proportions. The key is to take something that fits just ok to fit perfectly to your body through a tailor. They can do wonders and make your outfit look very expensive even if it is not.

If you have a large bust V necks are your friends, don't wear cross body bags. Get a professional bra fitting if you gain or lose 5lbs.

Jackets are the cornerstone of style. It takes just a bland outfit to completion. Jackets are where you want to spend your money as a good one will last you a few years and won't go out of style.

Upgrade your jewelry. He said little girls wear little jewelry. Women wear statement pieces. It also gives your look more oomph.

Dress as a French person. They buy clothing that is an investment, get them tailored, and wear often not caring about needing new outfits all the time. He said they maybe have a few incredible items in their closets and that is it. He talked about the need for Amerian's to just collect stuff constantly and doesn't have to be that way.

Crayola tip: "if the crayons are near each other in the box, they go together! Think about this when creating outfits."

And finally some of my favorite quotes from the show:

"There should not be room for your hopes and your dreams in your bra cup."

"Jeans and a t-shirt do not make an outfit. They make nothing"

"Women have got to stop using the H word with themselves. You wouldn't go up to someone and say 'I hate your hair!' It would ruin their day! So stop using it with yourselves! "

And finaly he left it on a nice note to not compare yourslef to others you are all amazingly different, and he worked in fashion and that every single picture of models are crazy airbrushed and a the women without pores as in the magazines is a "dead woman" they do not exist.

Overall be the best version of YOU!

When I met Clinton he was personable and sweet and I didn't feel intimidated at all. He did tell me he loved my pants (my blue ankle like relaxed pants I got a J Crew) and that he didn't bite when I went to go take a picture with him. I had a great time and wish there were more of these types of events in town. If you ever get the chance to go to a Clinton Kelly event I swear you will not regret it. I learned a lot and plan to visit my local tailor soon!

Here is his book if you want it. It is loaded with tips for putting together a dinner party, food, crafts, and style advice:

Freakin' Fabulous on a Budget

Below are some pictures from the event:

Wrap dress Ann Klein

The Blue dress is the Ruched Ralph Lauren Dress

All white with textures

Meeting him afterwards, He was so nice. I need to work on my posture.

Carmel-By-The-Sea Recommendations: Part I: Relax and Eat Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Fri, 16 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Recently my parents opened up an office in Carmel by the Seam (they live in town part time). Since they have opened the office they also rented the apartment above it for anyone to use while said person goes to Carmel to meet clients. That being said we have sort of taken it upon ourselves to go out once a month as opposed to going every 3 months and staying with my parents. Because we go so often I not only wanted to jot down places I love for my own record, but also to share with anyone who may go there for the first or second time. I am by no means an expert on Carmel because obviously I am not a local but we do a lot in town and are constantly trying new places and I just have grown to really love it there.

The apartment my parents have is tiny but cozy and we can let the kids run around and not be afraid they are going to break something fancy. We often go with the kids however for our 5 year wedding anniversary Nik and I went by ourselves while his mom watched the kids at home.

As you would imagine the places we visited without our kids varied from when we go with our kids. But I thought I could bring some insight into where to eat and drink, where to enjoy a night out, and great places to relax as I have gotten to know the town pretty well.

Read on for some of our favorites:

Relaxation:

Now when I am without the kids the main thing I want to do is relax or visit a spa. I don't do this very often and have only been to a few spas in the area in my time going to Carmel but two that just jump out at me are Refuge in Carmel Valley, and Bernardus Lodge, also in Carmel Valley.

When we went last month we spent around $40 dollars each to use Refuge and seriously it was the coolest experience. It is outdoors in the beautiful mountains/hills of Carmel Valley. You start with either a dry or steam sauna for 10 minutes. Then you jump into a cool (50-60 degree) or cold (35-40 degree) pool for mere seconds then you relax in zero gravity chairs or by the fire for another 10 minutes. You repeat this cycle around 3-5 times to get the full experience. I only did the cool and it knocked my breath out, Nik did the cold and he's insane.

After we did this about 4 times we sat in a hot tub and then left. I felt like my butt had been kicked. I did nothing much but felt like I had a serious workout. It felt great. The only downside is that my husband and I almost fell asleep at lunch. One of the coolest things I have ever done and I cannot recommend enough! They say its great for detoxifying, and good for sleep. Whatever it is I was wiped out but felt great at the same time.

Bernardus was great and just beautiful. Before my sisters wedding the bridal party had manicures and pedicures outside by the pool with wine (naturally). I wrote a little about that day here: Wedding Weekend. While I didn't get any other treatments I walked around the grounds of this spa and it was gorgeous. Serene pools and a lobby with a beautiful fireplace. The mani and pedis were awesome and I loved how they were outside in this great little tent. Bernardus is in Carmel Valley as well.

Lunch Ideas:

Lunch in Carmel is always a good time. It's a little foodie town without the crowds I guess you could say. It reminds me of restaurants in San Francisco but it is pretty easy to get a reservation and most serve lunch.

When I go we always walk by A.W. Shucks. It is always packed and lively but the place is really small so we could never take the kids in with us (strollers etc). Nik and I went on our anniversary and it did not disappoint. I personally don't eat oysters but I did have some fish tacos that were full of flavor, probably the best I have ever had seriously. The bloody mary in the above picture is from here as well and it was excellent. I have been on a real bloody mary kick and this fit right in with that craving. Service is fast and they make my favorite kind of french fries....steak cut. dun dun dunnnnn. This is making me hungry just writing about it.

Another favorite for lunch is Grasing's. The sandwiches are to die for and it is not as packed during the day as it is at night (another fun lively place for dinner). We usually do bring the kids with us and they seat us out back on the patio. The wine list is fabulous too.

And finally if you are looking for a place that is quick and you want to walk down to the beach I highly recommend Salumeria Luca. When I went with Claire there was a charismatic Italian man working who made Claire laugh. As any deli would they have meats, sandwiches, italian grocery items, and gelato. They even sell picnic food that you can bring down to the park or the beach. I thought that was really cute. Sandwiches are seriously amazing and different then a traditional sandwich if that makes any sense at all.

There are a ton more in town and anywhere really is excellent but off the top of my head those are my favorite spots for lunch. Low key and nice to go along with a day of shopping or walking.

In the next part of this series I will highlight some activities to do for adults and children that we love when we go to Carmel and Monterey.

Right now I am going to find something to eat because this made me hungry!

Sun kissed Makeup That Doesn't Make You Look Overdone

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Wed, 14 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I came home to a package from Influenster. Inside was the Mary Kay Sun Kissed make up collection. I couldn't have been more excited.

I have never used Mary Kay products except for their eye make up remover which is the best remover I have used. (reminds me I should buy some). In any regard I received a blush, bronzer, gel eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, translucent powder, and a cream eyeshadow.

I have used all the products for a couple of weeks now and what stands out most to me is the mascara, blush, gel eyeliner, cream eye shadow, and bronzer. Well actually those are the products I have been using most although I love everything I received.

Lat weekend we attended a fundraiser here in town and I used the gel eyeliner, black mascara, bronzer and blush for the event. The eyeshadow in the picture below is RMS, which is another fave, I wrote about them here: RMS Beauty Review

Dress JCrew Factory, Necklace: Stella and Dot, Purse Stella and Dot Jacket: Target, old

I am a very fair person and I feel like some bronzing powders either go on extremely dark or barely show at all. Mary Kay's gives me such a natural glow without looking fake. The mascara and gel eyeliner make my eyes just pop, and the blush had a great shimmer to it that complimented the overall look. The photo above was taken with my iphone without any enhancements to the photo.

Here are a few more from the evening.

Mother's Day and Palace Pets, a 3 Year Old's Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 12 May 2014 19:49:00 +0000

My children just super pumped and excited to celebrate with me

I was looking back on my blog to see if I even wrote about Mother's Day and I really haven't. But I also think this was the first year we actually celebrated it. Instead of the run of the mill brunch we decided to do a Mother's Day dinner at Campagnia, a local restaurant here that has a great outdoor patio. It is even nice to sit out on when it is a million degrees outside. (which it isn't yet). We sat out there for a while, had some wine, and relaxed. Amazingly the kids sat still, which was a miracle unto itself.

I had a Cesar Salad and a chicken entree and we split a bottle of Talbot Pinot Noir and I managed to not to "bites" of my kids pizza. I did absolutely nothing during the day which I haven't done in quite some time. It was incredible, one of the best gifts really, I even caught up on some tv. So now I declare Mother's Day my new favorite holiday! Well behind Christmas and Thanksgiving.

found this on my phone along with 4 other princesses

So as we dined Claire played with her Palace Pet app on the iPad. She is crazy obsessed with Palace Pets, you know the pets of the Disney princesses? I didn't know they had pets but apparently they do and Claire wants to collect all of them. Right now she has Snow White's Bunny. Claire will brush her tail and push the button so her pet talks which by the way is extremely loud. When Claire won't go to bed at night which is a regular basis now she will crawl out of her bed and sit at her doorway in the dark and play her Palace Pet, it's incredibly creepy but its a signal that Claire is not sleeping. We will take turns walking down the hall and find Claire sitting in the dark. Claire almost acts surprised and says "hi how's it going". We do this routine a couple times a night.

In any regard she loves saving the pictures that she creates on the iPad with her palace pets and princesses. I guess you can add the accessories and background? Not sure. But as Claire has gotten a little older she has created this obsession with these things and she has started to ask for any toy kids play with on commercials. Which if I remember I used to do as a kid. You know that "I must have this toy NOWWW" attitude. Yikes.

Here are a few Mother's Day pictures. Hope you had a great weekend!

Deciding what to eat for Mother's Day breakfast

That One Time I Did a Cleanse...and Survived

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Thu, 08 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

I hear so much about juicing these days its somewhat information overload. Don't get me wrong I do own a juicer and do enjoy my green juices, however I don't have them every day. Every time I read a blog or look on Instagram someone is making some fabulous juice which in turn makes me think "crap I should juice more". Here is back when I started Juicing Jucing Fun.

I took things a step further and decided to go for a 3 day juice cleanse from a deal I found on my favorite site. Joyus (watch the video to get more details.)

I won't lie, the cleanse was pricy (a good $200 or so). But the holidays had just ended and I felt just so blah, had gained a few lbs and wanted a clean slate to start eating better again. Plus I wanted to get rid of my sugar addiction and my nightly chocolate binge. The juices showed up at work and naturally all the guys in the office made fun of me but I was determined to do it. I did Urban Remedy's Signature cleanse. The first day was great, I had energy, the juices were fantastic, and because there were 6 a day the second I felt hungry It was already time for another juice. I had no problems the first day. The second day I woke up with the worst headache and was dragging energy wise. I was moody, starving and thinking what am I doing! The headache wouldn't go away either. I grumbled through my second day angry at the world. The third day I still had a headache but I wasn't as angry. I felt ok actually. However my hunger didn't subside. That night I caved and had some veggies and hummus because I just couldn't go on. I did make it the 3 days though, hardest thing I have done with food or diet. I missed chewing my food. I lost a couple pounds (water weight) and did feel like I had a new start to jump back into my normal eating routine. So in that sense it helped. Over all would I do it again? Probably not. But it did get me back into juicing. And had me thinking I should open a juice bar in Fresno and charge 10 bucks for a bottle! I can dream. Actually now Urban Remedy has these kits you can get automatically delivered to your door with juice and snacks. This sounds more like a reset I would do once in a while then just the juice. They have partnered with Cindy Crawford to bring this to the public. Sounds interesting. Not sure if I could get away with spending $164 once a month for it though. Nik may be breathing down my neck. My friends who asked me about juicing I said try it once and see what you think. For me I won't do it again unless there are snacks involved, (which is now available at Urban Remedy). But I sure did feel good about myself loading up on all those vitamins after a month in December of pure junk. Have a good one!

Checking out my juice stash in the garage

This actually looks really good to me right now, at the time it was headache city (I am sure from withdrawing from sugar and caffeine)

You want a juice now mom?

Health and Fitness Strides and Life as of Late

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Tue, 06 May 2014 23:01:00 +0000

Every week I say to myself I am going to do a blog post! And well here we are several months later. My life has been so incredibly busy lately but in a good way. I am working part time at my parents financial firm Mon-Wed learning the tricks of the trade and working on their advertising and social media. I am also still helping out with projects for my old company in Chicago Th-Fri and then again on Sundays. In between that I have been just doing a ton of work with the Junior League of Fresno. Being my first active year has been crazy busy, plus the volunteer opportunities have been incredible. My favorite so far was holding a baby in the NICU. I am an official baby cuddler! I can go anytime too, which will be nice during the summer where I won't have near as much going on.

In addition to everything I have been crazy addicted to The Bar Method of Fresno. I started going at the beginning when they opened in October and have been consistent. I started going 3 days a week and have recently moved up to 4 times a week then doing one day of cycle tabata at Copper River. Muscle really does weigh more then fat. I have only lost 5lbs but I am a size smaller and officially in my clothes from before having Claire! As in my pre Claire clothes are comfortable on me, not tight. The class is never ever easy. Sometimes I get frustrated that I am not stronger but I really think I am, I am just pushing harder. I will never be a total cardio queen again. This has completely reshaped my body. I feel comfortable again and am looking to continue going to see where it can take me. The best part is I haven't even dieted!

Speaking of diet that is a whole other topic. I haven't been dieting however, I have been reading and trying to learn as much as I can about eating clean. Not low carb, or low calorie. But examples include coconut oil in my daily smoothies (because they apparently help with thyroid issues), eating as much vegetables as possible and I have sort of cut back on meat. I still eat it but I have become really picky about where I get my meat. I have been reading too much about how bad certain types of meat can actually be. With that said I have been crazy over the weekends so my next goal is to tone it back a bit on the weekends.

Tom and Claire are doing great. They are in daycare/preschool 2 days a week and Tom has been starting to talk a lot more. He still loves wearing my big heels around the house and following his sister everywhere. Claire has been saying the funniest things lately that it's hard to keep a straight face especially when she's in trouble.

In any regard I am still here just trying to get that whole "work/life" balance in order. Here is to more blog posts!

We celebrated our 5 Year wedding anniversary and Nik wanted me to leave him here

At our annual Junior League fundraiser.

Tom loving down the Easter Bunny

Family fun on Easter

Claire has begun to smile for the camera! Now to work on Tom

January Happenings and Budsies, a Unique Gift Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 13:30:00 +0000

Yes it is January 26th, this month has flown. I started working 3 days a week full time beginning of this month and haven't had much down time inbetween. It has been one busy month! We had a great New Years down in Temecula and have had some action packed weekends in between.

One thing I did want to share is what Claire got for Christmas. If you have never heard of Budsies www.budsies.com, they bring your children's artwork to life. It is such a unique gift idea for your kids, friends, etc...if you feel you are ever in a gift rut, I highly suggest you try them out!

Claire always makes me draw a dog for her when we sit down to color. I am a horrific artist but since she is still trying to master the art of drawing a circle, I went ahead and submitted my gorgeous 'artwork' to Budsides and what they sent back was amazing. I was really impressed how close it was to my original drawing. Claire was so happy she now sleeps with the dog and gives it kisses. Once the kids get older I cannot wait to submit more drawings of their own! What a great way to create memories!

Below are some of our January highlights I included some pics from Temecula as well. I haven't taken too many pictures this month. But plan to hopefully in February.

I will have an update on a juice cleanse I recently did by Urban Remedy. Details to come....Hope your first month of 2014 was great!

Claire petting her new Budsies doggie

Admiration

Kisses

My amazing creation!

The cousins enjoying a run in Temecula

Tom is feeling out Claire's princess heels

Happy Holidays from my Family to Yours

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 21:41:00 +0000

Photos by Scott Campbell Photography (this years xmas card)

From our family to yours, I hope you have an excellent Christmas and Happy New Year. We are gearing up for a fun one. This year it is just us 4 for Christmas Eve then my husband's parents are coming out for Christmas Day. We also get our annual date day and movie at Yardhouse on the 28th, to scarf up their holiday beers and relax. We intend to see some friends who are in town as well. Then we are off to Temecula to wine taste and relax at a house we rented. We will be joined by my sister in law and her husband and daughter Olivia. Finally I think they are at the same age where they can play together. So that should be really fun to watch.

Hopefully when we return there will be a major snowstorm so Claire can start some ski lessons. Any fun plans this week? Thanks to all who keep following along on my blog, I know I have been absent here and there as work was piling up. Ill just say my New Years resolution is to keep this going!

Fitness Equipment to Help you Through the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 08:30:00 +0000

So I have been super diligent about exercising and eating right (most of the time). Since this past summer I have lost about 5lbs and am slowly moving towards my goal. I decided to up the anty by joining the 6 month Transformation Diet on http://www.dietbetter.com/. Basically you pay about $20 a month for 6 months. Whoever hits their goal at the end of 6 months wins a part of the pot. Right now my pot is at about $100k! Holy crap right?

Now there are monthly bets too if you just want to lose a small amount of weight. I want to lose 15lbs so I think that this will really help me hit that goal. I am already denying myself those extra wine calories during the week because of this bet.

Looking back I started to lose weight faster by giving up my hard core cardio routines. I am a cardio junkie and tend to gravitate towards kick-your-butt workouts that make you sweat a lot. Back in October I committed myself to going to The Bar Method 3-4 days a week and spend those two other days doing some sort of interval training. Now don't get me wrong The Bar Method kicks my butt big time but it is different. I find it harder obviously to participate in a class then it is doing a video at home mainly because I try to push myself as hard as others do in class. My legs shake and hurt so much during thigh work I have to stop for a second for fear my legs will give out. I have noticed some fabulous changes in my body. My stomach is much more flat and strong, I am seeing definition in my arms, and my legs have gotten smaller. All while not leaving class dripping in sweat. Its is a nice change and its great to change things up a bit.

With that said I will not be able to do much exercise through next week until New Years as we are going to Temecula with my husbands family. I do however have some ideas to do some quick moves here and there to hopefully keep my abs strong enough and my body feeling ok so I don't die when I return to class.

Here are some of my favorites, and wants:

1. I love doing abs on the Bar Method mat. There is something about the cushion that makes me really be able to focus on holding my abs in. Will be great to do along with the video.

2. A kettlebell. I love using these, they make you entirely out of breath and really help work your core. Here is a good routine: KettleBell Routine

3. Exercise Bands. I used these in a recent HIIT class and oh my lord did my legs and arms burn. Here is a good routine using the bands: Exercise Band Routine

4. And finally the Fit Bit Flex. I have this on my Christmas wish list and I really hope I get one. I love this because it tracks your sleep and calorie expenditure. I honestly don't think I get many nights of good sleep so it will be interesting to analyze and try to fix.

I hope everyone is excited for the holidays, I cannot believe it is next week! Are there any other at home devices you use to help keep your fitness on track through the holidays?

Elizabeth Street Feature

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:15:00 +0000

Elizabeth Street is one of my favorite online "mom" magazines. There are so many great articles for moms, kids, fashion, fitness, etc. I try to read it as often as I can.

www.elizabethstreet.com

Last month I was so excited that I was a chosen submission to be one of their featured moms. Not that I consider myself fashionable, but I do love clothing and accessories. I have started to feel more comfortable in my clothing recently since having Tom 14 months ago and have started to dress like I did before I had kids. I can rock a pair of sweats like no one's business but to dress up or wear anything a little fitted made me self conscious (and still sometimes does but I am getting there). I have been working hard to get back to my old self and I am getting close so have begun to vary up my wardrobe, and I make sure I put together a nice outfit every day.

I am going back to work Monday-Wednesdays in January helping with my husband and parents firm. In addition I am continuing to help out with my old company on Thursdays, Fridays and weekends. Overall it will equate to a full time job. It will be an adjustment but I am ready. I miss working and the routine of it. I will miss being able to workout anytime I want and spending time with the kids but I will make out a new schedule, and spend extra fun time with the kids.

With that said I have been doing a little shopping lately as all my work attire is somewhat outdated. I will share some outfits in the future but for now just wanted to share this accomplishment.

Was it a hard transition for anyone going back to work after having some time off with the kids?

Disneyland Tips for First Timers with Small Children

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:00:00 +0000

My family and I just got back from a trip to Disneyland. I hadn't been since I was younger and a lot has changed. Claire had such a blast and Tom well he was a little indifferent but I would like to think he had fun. Claire has been quite girly lately and so it was really cute to see her get excited to see the Disney princesses.

The fact that there are multiple areas to meet the disney characters is really amazing, and I don't recall them having that when I went years ago. The park itself really caters to people with children of all ages, especially strollers and babies.

We stayed at the Grand Californian and it was conveniently located walking distance to the park which made things super easy when the kids needed their naps. The hotel had story time at night by the fireplace, christmas carolers, and Santa Claus!

Here are some things I learned that I will use next time we go to Disneyland, which I hope is often!!

1. Obviously bring a stroller and a blanket. Thomas powered through the second day so I reclined his stroller and covered the opening with a blanket so he could relax.

2. Take advantage of the PhotoPass. There are stations all over Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure Park, and the Grand Californian Hotel. You get a card and they scan it at every station and you can get great quality images at all your stops. Beats lugging around a large camera like I did. The photo of all of us in front of the Disneyland entrance, the Santa photo, and Claire with Tinker bell were all from Photopass.

3. Go during mid week if you can. We went on a Monday and a Tuesday and the parks were manageable, as in the longest line we waited in was 30 minutes.

4. Do the park hopper pass. We jumped from park to park and had a fabulous time.

5. Download the MouseWait app. It has a crowd index and wait times for each ride and restaurant and literally dictated which rides we went to.

5. Use the switch passes if you have a baby that way your significant other, friend, or family member can go straight to the front of the line when you are done with the ride.

6. Bring a backpack instead of a purse. I lugged my baby bag around and it was a pain the first day so we used my husbands backpack and it made a word of difference.

7. If you really want to get your full day (s) I recommend skipping a dinner reservation and just grab food as you go. I made a reservation our first day and felt like we wasted precious ride time.

8. If your daughter is into princesses see about purchasing them a princess dress to wear into the park. Claire wore hers all day long and loved admiring herself once she knew the princesses all wore gowns. (we just couldn't pry the thing off of her). Get to Fantasy Faire early as the line can be about an hour or longer wait. We went at 9am and waited 15 minutes. Also if your daughter is over 3 they do a whole princess makeover in the salon! The breakfast at Aerial's Grotto is a princess breakfast and Claire met all her favorites. You can make reservations here: Aerial's Grotto

9. The World of Disney store in Downtown Disney has a ton of items in one location so if you want you can save your shopping until you get to this store.

10. My 14 month old son hated Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes its not an hardcore ride but the dark and the noises freaked him out so we stuck with the castle rides for him after this experience. Claire on the other hand loved everything and she is 3 in February.

11. Enjoy every minute. I wish we had done a 3 day park hopper but we took advantage of all we could in the 2 days we were there.

12. Go during the holidays if you can, the park is so very festive and the weather is cool.

13. Finally, bring some serious hand sanitizer and wash your hands often. My entire family sans Claire and I ended up with either a cold or the stomach flu after our adventure.

November Highlights...

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 22:14:00 +0000

Yes I have been majority MIA lately. But for good reasons. :) this past month has been quite busy, but a fun busy. I have been picking up much more work then usual and I feel like I am constantly running around town. I was also out of town for 3 weekends this past month. I was in San Francisco visiting some girlfriends, then we were in Carmel doing our family photographs, which was a blast, and finally we made a trip up to the cabin to relax.

We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year and I have finally finished all the ideas for the day. Now to actually execute them. This should be interesting. I have a few good recipes I pulled off of Pinterest which I think will turn out great.

Speaking of Pinterest, I attended a Pinterest party last saturday, which I think is one of the best ideas I have heard of in a long time. Basically you pick a craft and a dish and bring 10 craft items to the party for a gift exchange. I am not crafty at all but managed to make some really cool chalkboard cheese plates! It was actually pretty fun and I now want to do more crafts!

This is short but I wanted to share some highlights over the past month or so:

My son the Viking for Halloween

Halloween with my friend Jessica and her family

Here is Claire and Tom with their buddy Bradford just kicking back before trick or treating

Claire in her princess attire for her school party.

Claire's very first school photograph!

Was so happy to hang out with my friend Erin in San Francisco. Was a blast catching up

Eating lunch at the ferry building next to the creepiest doll I have ever seen

Sweaty dancing out in SF

Claire insisted on wearing goggles. She has been going through a big phase where she wants to pick out her outfits and continually do costume changes throughout the day.

Tom being cute in his baby towel

Our cool Thanksgiving plates

Nik getting out on the golf course while my friend and I sat back and sipped bloody marys.

And we FINALLY painted the dark red room and Claire's hot pink room yay!

Fab Fit Fun VIP Box Review

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:30:00 +0000

I haven't done a box review in quite some time. I am absolutely loving FabFitFun's quarterly or shall I say seasonal boxes. The price is around $50 bucks and you get so many amazing items. The good thing is that it comes every 3 months or so rather then monthly. To me that in itself is worth the splurge. To find out about signing up you can go here: FabFitFun VIP

This season's did not dissapoint. I could not get over how much value the items inside the box were. With the Standing Slim DVD by Barre 3, one of my favorite workout DVD's there is a voucher to get 15 free days of their online workouts! Here are the highlights:

I am not a huge fan of Chia, but my husband loves these bars so I let him eat it

This protein spray has made my hair feel great before I blow-dry it. Caution to not spray too much though

A beautiful Holiday color

Um this is my new drinking companion. I used these vitamins when I went to a wedding and they worked wonders I have since purchased a bottle of Drinkwel vitamins.

Who doesn't love popcorn

Got this beautiful scarf with birds on it. So cute to dress up a fall outfit

5 awesome smokey eyeshadows that I wore out to the same wedding I used Drinkwel.

Love Barre 3!

Received the oxygen facewash and this coupon to use at a Bliss Spa

A fun card game with awesome Awkward Family Photos.

Potty Training take 300

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:13:00 +0000

Ok so I am not sure if you have small children but if you do going on a vacation for a week can really mess up their routines. I have really learned that my kids are big routine little people. I guess that is normal but I didn't think going on vacation would put a huge dent in my potty training of Claire. We were so close to being 100% potty trained.

Claire however has decided she never wants to go number 2 ever again. Long story short it has been a stressful process to even get her to go in her diaper and with that we have had to put her on children's laxatives. It has been one month out and she is still having issues. So we had to put potty training on the back burner. Putting it on the back burner I realized set us back to square one.

Now that we sort of have her number 2 issue under control (I really hope it doesn't last much longer because it looks like it really stresses her out) I decided to give potty training a whirl again.

The great people of Potty Patrol felt my woes and let me try their product out for myself. The starter kit comes with a pack of 24 diapers specially made to hold onto the potty alarm. (as shown below)

I hear twinkle twinkle!

So Claire woke up from a nap and wanted to color. I put the alarm diaper on her and she colored away. All of a sudden she stopped coloring and looked at me when the alarm went off. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star played and I instantly grabbed her and put her on the potty to finish her pee. Success! If the alarm had not gone off I wouldn't have known she went pee. It has really helped getting us back in the swing of starting from square one in potty training. If you want a starter kit you can find them here: Potty Patrol Starter Kit.

Thomas in One Year and the Bar Method

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:05:00 +0000

I hope you are all are doing great. Thomas turned one a few weeks ago and I put together a fun collage of the boy with his monthly stickers. It is shocking how fast babies grow in one year. He is walking like a champ and talking somewhat. Saying mama, nana (banana), dada, ball, dog, you know the important things in life.

Big boy in the making.

On another note I have been going to a physical therapist because my pelvic floor is incredibly weak from my pregnancies and back surgery. She told me that I really need to focus on my core and really get it strong to strengthen my posture. (plus would be nice to get rid of my stomach sticking out from weak muscles) She gave me some exercises to do each night but also that the Bar Method is a fabulous addition to my routine. That or pilates. The Bar Method just opened here in town and I bought their one month unlimited pass. I have gone 3 times this week so far and let me tell you I LOVE it.

Back when I lived in the city (SF, Chicago) I would go to the Dailey Method (very similar philosophy) a few times a week and just loved how hard yet relaxing it was. Does that even make sense? I am so used to going to these hardcore, high impact, kill myself workouts. That I forget that even the tiniest movements that the Bar Method focuses on will kill you as well.

Sure I have done these workouts at home and its a fabulous edition but to go to a studio and have someone correct your posture (which they do a lot to me), give me props to help my abs (I am one of the few that needs help :( ), is so beneficial because I have really started to feel my abs so much more and know I am getting an effective workout.

My goal this month is to go to the studio 3-4 days a week and if I go 3 then do a video at home for the 4th. I also would have to go at night when Nik gets home from work which is a huge motivation killer. Mainly because I like working out in the morning but I think I am motivated just enough to do it.

After my first month is over the price shoots up a good amount so I really need to figure out if I am able to continue going (hopefully so).

In any regard I will let you know my progress after this month. And if you haven't tried the Bar Method or any other similar workout I really suggest you try. Don't be intimidated either. Most people in class are just as new as you and the teachers are really there to help you perfect your moves. Also if you want a good video for home they have a great selection!

It has been one hectic week with me picking up more work and both kids were sick. Potty training has taken a back seat because after our trip to Chicago, Claire has decided she doesn't ever want to go to the potty ever again. Back to phase one people. I hope you all are doing great!

Week in Illinois, Tom's First Birthday, and Traveling with Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Erin Redmond) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +0000

We just got back from a fabulous week visiting Claire and Tom's grandparents, great grand parents, and our friends back in Illinois. It was a long week but went by so fast as we were so busy. Nik and I's first weekend was spent kid free for the first time since Claire was born. We got in Thursday and Friday headed to Chicago. We stayed with our friend Caitlin and her husband Trent and it was so nice to not have to stay at a hotel. During our first day we walked all over the city just Nik and I and pretty much drank wine and ate good food. (I was in no way on my diet or exercise regime and did not care, sometimes a break is a good thing). To sit at a restaurant and not have to swat away little hands, eat at the speed of lightening, and stop meltdowns was in itself a vacation.

We met up with our friends when they were done with work and got some cocktails at the Paris Club then headed to dinner at the Boarding House. We sat at a table with our group totally away from the rest of the restaurant. Normally I would love that but I couldn't see any of the incredible decor of this massive, beautiful restaurant.

with friends at Boarding House

The second day we again went to a sports bar so Nik could meet up with some of his college friends and then we just carted around the city meeting up with old friends. That night we went to a party and stayed up until 3am. I cannot believe I was able to do that. But when in the company of old friends I haven't seen in a while, I was just excited.

The week on the farm was fun but busy. Below are some trip highlights. It was Tom's first birthday and we celebrated by going apple picking on a local farm. My sisters good friend from college and her kids came out to meet us which was fun to catch up with her too. Only problem was that Tom was not interested in apple picking, or playing on the farm, and wanted to sleep instead. No problem, he slept, we gave him treats all day, he rode a tractor, and had some pie. All in all a great first birthday.

Unimpressed with his pie

Bringing daddys beer to him

(not sure why the last few are fuzzy)

Ok so I am no traveling pro considering I don't travel much anymore but I have learned some lessons from this trip that I will use next time we fly with two young children. But what I learned about flying with a 12 month old and a 2 year old. The 2 year olds are pretty easy if you have games, ipad, treats, milk, and coloring books (at least for Claire). 12 month olds if they are walking only want to cruise the airplane and walk and smile at people. I could not for the life of me entertain Tom. He only wanted to walk. He screamed for a bit and squirmed a lot. It was really stressful for me, but thankfully people were so nice on the plane. I thought they would sleep on the flight because it was at night, but instead they fell asleep right as we were landing and Claire screamed so loud when i woke her up and cried until we got home pretty much. Cranky pants city. I felt bad but plan to leave and fly in the morning if we are to fly again. They don't always sleep as I thought they might.

I hope everyone is doing great. I have some fun recipes coming up as I am doing a 21 day clean eating diet through a nutritionist that is sure to help my eating going forward. I had the worst stomach aches from eating bad all week so I am more then ready to get started!