Now & Then.

Now, October 2015

A lot can change in a year! Pounds lighter, a new mindset, new goals, and a new blog to share #mymamaheart with you.

Then, October 2014

Now

Then

 I plan to set my intention for the rest of November to enjoy my days and moments with Forrest & Hunter that we have together :)

Nexxus #hairthatmoves

Influenster recently sent me a package that included Nexxus Emergencée shampoo, conditioner, and reconstructing hair treatment.  The shampoo and conditioner is meant to be used as often as you wash you hair, and the treatments are formulated to be used once a week.

I used the shampoo for about two weeks.  I have been a fan and used Nexxus products in the past.  Sadly, this shampoo was way too heavy for my hair, and made it oily by the next morning.  Because of #momlife, I shower every night, sleep on wet hair, and hope for the best the next morning.  These products do not do well hours of sleeping then making yourself presentable for work.  I used the reconstructing treatment once, and my hair remained tangled and unbrushable after the shower.  Typically, I expect silky smooth hair after such a treatment... but wasn't the case.  

Above is after freshly washed hair, barely dried with a hairdryer at the last minute, and it would be acceptable for this scenario.  This scenario, is me, never, or once every few months at best.

Surprisingly, even my husband felt it was too heavy for his hair and made it also oil.  

I think this would be a great shampoo for anyone with dry, damaged hair that does not have a tendency to become oily with a heavy and repairing shampoo and conditioner.

The ingredients list is pretty awesome - I would definitely be willing to try other products in the Nexxus line, this combo just wasn't for me.

• CAVIAR COMPLEX

  A highly nutritious marine complex infused with Caviar renowned for its luxuriousness, this blend is rich in protein. 
  
  Therappe & Humectress Regimen
  
  

  

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• BABASSU & MARULA OILS

  Used for generations in the Amazon, Babassu oil is full of lauric acid, a lipid also found in hair. Marula oil, extracted from trees indigenous to Southern Africa, is a source of oleic acid, known for its powerful antioxidant properties. 
  
  Oil Infinite Regimen
  
  

  

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  LIQUID PEARL

  Infused with marine pearls known for their iconic visual luster and mineral rich formation. 
  
  Youth Renewal Regimen

• GREEN TEA EXTRACT

  A substance rich in powerful antioxidants.
  
  Diametress Regimen
  
  

  

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  FLAX SEED OIL

  With high levels of alpha-linoleic, this is an abundant source of omega-3. 
  
  Promend Regimen

• DEEP SEA MINERALS

  Extracted from exotic salt, this ingredient is known for its use in Balinese purification rituals.
  
  

  

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  WHITE ORCHID EXTRACT

  Infused with an extract of Phalaenopsis Amabilis, a flower renowned for its beauty. 
  
  Color Assure Regimen

Dear Hunter | 18 months

Dear Hunter,

This month ended with a not so fun viral illness that has kept you out of daycare almost a week and feeling pretty crummy.  You have a great attitude about it until midnight - 4 am when you are awake a lot, sometimes happy, sometimes crying, and sometimes just need extra cuddles.  This month you became very attached to a miniture baby panda stuffed animal you have loving nicknamed "Baby".  You walk around hugging him, holding him, kissing him, and feeding him puffs.  It's pretty much the cutest toddler thing ever.

Until this past week, we were having a wonderful Fall!  I was able to leave work for a few hours at the beginning of the month and we went with your daycare friends to a local pumpkin patch.  You didn't really enjoy the hayride (screamed the whole time) but you loved jumping up and down in a bouncey house with some fellow toddlers. 

Daddy was home lots of weekends working hard on installing a coal stove and preparing for another Preston County winter.  We had fall pictures taken mid October in Deep Creek MD.  It was blistery cold and windy but you didn't mind at all - you giggled as mommy sang to you and laughed uncontrollably when daddy played hide and go seek behind the photographer.  The pictures turned out amazing and I hope when you read this at least one is having up on our walls.

This month marks when I really need to start calling you one and a half year's old and then later almost two instead of saying the amount of months.  Someday.  Some days you look so much like a little boy and are so independent, others you still want to be right next to mama and cry at day care drop off. 

Mama and daddy had a wonderful October with you and are looking forward to this upcoming holiday season :)

Hunter's Second Halloween | October 2015 | 17 months

Our Halloween this year was spent with me and work and Hunter with a viral illness (notice the spots around his mouth!) so we didn't have any trick or treating excitement.  I still put his costume on and grabbed a few photos as his costume was too cute.  I found it at a local consignment store for $10 and I had some credit, so I scored it for $5!.  I found out later it is "Sully" from Monsters Inc, a children's cartoon movie.  When I finished work Halloween night, we watched the movie. :)

Two booking bonus!

Hello!  If you have an avaHOUR or an Ava Anderson Non Toxic virtual Facebook party... and two friends agree to book their own party... you get this for free <3

Meal prep Sunday | November 8, 2015

I had a wonderful girl's night/ mama's night away and met my friend in Pittsburgh.

 Trader Joe's was calling my name, so I quickly googled a few easy recipes to make in the crock pot when I got home from my trip. 

I got ingredients to make baked eggs, skinny taste easy crock pot chicken verde, skinny taste picadillo, and a one pan chicken/butternut squash/Brussels sprouts recipe.  I also got some flax/chia berry prepackaged hot cereal mix, pears, trail mix, and flavored seltzer water for snacks/extras this week.

We won't talk about my crunchy cookie butter or ginger candy chews! 

Anyways, I figured 2 crock pot dishes and a one pan roasting recipe would hopefully be minimal extra dishes on top of what I left behind from late last week.

Recipes I made:

Skinny Taste Blog Easy Crock Pot Chicken Verde

Skinny Taste Blog Crock Pot Picadillo

I also got ingredients and will make this later in the week:

Eating Bird Food Blog One=Pan Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash and Brussel Sprouts

Hunter is thankfully on the mend and I enjoy meal prepping so I have a good, healthy, fresh start to my week!