PRINTABLE JANUARY CALENDAR // GO GET EM, TIGER!


Time to make your dreams into plans with this free printable January 2016 Calendar!

Ok it's January 2nd, the real day we all start those New Year resolutions, riiiiiggght? I was going to go to the gym today but I assumed it was going to be waaay too busy with all those starting their goals today (excuses, excuses I know lols!)

I'm excited to share with you my one word for 2016 (also recap on 2015's too!) but I'm also making some dreams/goals too! So I'm using this calendar to turn some dreams into plans and you can too...just download below :)

GO GET EM, TIGER!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE JANUARY 2016 CALENDAR

XO,
laura

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Happy New Year!

The last day of 2015...WOWZA! We're off to Van to ring in the new year with some great friends and do a little shopping (hello Topshop maternity!!!!)

Hope you have a great New Years filled with contentment, thankfulness and peace. Today I was reminded of God's great peace... no matter what life brought me in 2015...some ups and some downs...God proved His faithfulness. In the New Year I'll spend a little bit of time reflecting on 2015 and then we'll be full on all 2016 things...so excited for what this next year will bring!

Love you lots. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

xo,
laura

PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS


Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags!

I made you some gift tags again this year! Remember last years? You can view and download them here. Well I had so much fun making those ones (and because I have a serious love affair with nice Christmas wrap and thinks everyone should have access to cute gift tags for free) that I decided to do it again.

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags!

5 new ones and one repeat of MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMAL because everybody deserves a little more Home Alone in their lives.

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags!

All you need to do is download the gift tags below, find yourself a colour printer and then attach them to all the prezzies you're giving away!

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

 

Happy one week until Christmas!!!

XO,
Laura

PREGNANCY POST // 4 MONTH BUMP UPDATE


4 month bump update!

It's about time I update you on this whole pregnancy thing hey? I'm excited to give you some monthly updates that I will continue until baby Liira's arrival!

Well, first of all the day has come...my bump has arrived!!! Clearly, I'm very happy about it as I spent most of the first trimester feeling very bloated most of the time. So hello bump! It's so nice to meet you :)

How far along are you?

I'm just at the start of my 4th month. Can't believe I'll be 15 weeks tomorrow! I feel that the first trimester went ridiculously slow and now I'm all like HOW IS IT 15 WEEKS!

How big is baby?

Right now baby is the size of a large lemon and tomorrow he/she will be the size of the pear! It's insane to think that this little baby started out as cells..makes me think how amazing God is! He knit this little one in my womb <3

Feeling:

I'm finally starting to get my energy back (PTL!!) yet last week I had the flu…which sucked! I hadn't been "sick" in six years so I guess it was about time I got sick again. During my first trimester I was nauseous most of the time and very tired at night but miraculously, no puking! I definitely feel like I have more energy except last night I strangely went to bed at 7pm!! I guess I'm finding my balance with how much I can handle. I try to squeeze a lot in a day and God is teaching me to listen to my body and rest when I can…and if I don't…I'm forced lols.
I've also started to get heart burn a lot!! If it's still real bad by the time of my next doctor's appt (end of Dec), I'll end up asking her for something stronger than tums.

Food love:

I feel like I'm just starting to get cravings. On Monday I HAD TO HAVE A VEGGIE CONE from a local Japanese market. Something came over me and OH MY GOSH I HAD TO HAVE IT. It's nice to actually start craving food instead of just bland crackers and bananas.

Food hate:

Strangely, I want nothing to do with pasta…especially cheesy pasta in my first trimester. There was a pasta bar in the buffet on our cruise and I literally had to hold my breath or plug my nose every time I walked by! I still don't want anything too cheesy. I also want nothing to do with leftovers or super saucy salads.

Exercise:

I'm still going for runs and to the gym a couple times a week! It's been pretty sad to see my pace go down but I know I can't push myself too hard. I don't want to give up though. I know you're allowed to exercise so I'm finding the balance of doing it right without over doing it.

Clothing:

Right now I'm still wearing my old jeans (with the help of the good ol rubber band trick). My shirts are mostly loose so I will probably be able to wear them for a LONG time. I do want some new flat boots and maternity jeans which I may purchase on a post-Christmas trip to Vancouver (HELLO TOPSHOP!)

What I'm looking forward to:

CHRISTMAS! Right now all I want to do is get into pyjamas, snuggle up with James (or Coco lols) and watch Christmas movies. Our Christmas tree is up and our mantle is decorated and I could just stay in my living room forever. I'm also very much looking forward to our ultrasound in January where we find out if Baby Liira is a boy or girl…oh my goodness the waiting is KILLING ME.

Oh and funny story….When I originally took the mirror selfie above I immediately had to retake because I was horrified by the state of my room. I quickly cleaned a bit and then took the photo but that's not real life so below is the original photo…

 
4 month pregnancy update!
 

Ha, how awesome is Coco's tail!

With love,
laura

5 COOKIE RECIPES TO TRY THIS CHRISTMAS


Delicious cookie recipes to try this holiday season!

We're almost halfway through December and I haven't done ANY Christmas baking!!!! I usually attend a cookie exchange but because of crazy schedules, it just isn't going to work out this year BUT don't worry James, I plan to get my bake on this afternoon and I AM SO EXCITED!

I'll be baking a few of my classics that I make every year and adding a new one, so look out for another recipe soon!

But in the meantime here are 5 cookie recipes you should totally bake this Christmas!!

1. CHEWY GINGERBREAD COOKIES W/ CREAM CHEESE ICING

The perfect chewy gingerbread cookies with white chocolate cream cheese icing!!

OH MY GOSH. YOU GUYS. These are my absolute favourite cookies to make at Christmas time. Soft & chewy gingerbread and cream cheese icing..say no more! I'm baking a bunch of them today. CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE.

 

2. THICK AND CHEWY CLASSIC CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

The best chocolate chip cookies you will ever eat.

These are the best chocolate chip cookies you will ever eat. I am seriously not joking. You can ask James and he will tell you. They are thick and chewy and have the perfect amount of sweet & salty. I make them ALL THE TIME and they get devoured so quickly! CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE!

 

3. SWIG STOP COOKIES

Let's get our holiday baking on! 5 Cookie recipes for you to try this Christmas season!

I tried these ones when I was in Salt Lake City last year and I seriously could not get over them. They are apparently famous round those parts and I knew I needed to find a recipe for them. I think it would be super cute to change the icing colour to pale red and green to make them all Christmasy. CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE.

 

4. NUTELLA STUFFED BROWN BUTTER SEA SALT COOKIES

Nutella stuffed cookies!

Ok, excuse the junky photography....that was from a few years ago and clearly taken at night LOLS...which I will never ever do again BUT these cookies are a WHOLE NOTHA LEVEL. Just warning, they are quite messy to make but don't let that stop you because nutella + sea salt is a match made in Heaven and you will satisfy the masses with these. CLICK HERE TO GET THE RECIPE.

 

5. SALTED SKOR BIT COOKIES.

Salted skor bit cookies!

These are a ridiculously easy and delicious cookie to make...the perfect thing in this bustling season! It will not take long, so go get your bake on! CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE.

 

Happy baking everyone! I'm off to the dentist (BOOOOOO.) But after I will be in my happy place with my kitchen aid.

XO,
laura