Hawaiian Dip

I made this for the party but I think there were so many other dips that it kind of got pushed to the side. But I had some and I really liked it!!

You will need:
1 package of cream cheese
1 small container of sour cream
1 can of pineapple chunks
2 slice of thick ham ( like toupee ham) cut up
1/2 cup bacon bits
1 cup shredded cheese

Direcitons
1. Mix cream cheese and sour cream together. Then mix in 1/2 cup of juice from the pineapples. Spread over a 9x13 pan.
2. Drain the rest of the pineapples.
3. In a bowl add pineapple chunks, cut up ham, bacon and cheese. lightly mix together
4. then place over top of cream cheese mix.
5. Chill for 1 hour before serving.
6. Serve with tostitos chips.

Lemon Lasagna

This was another hit at our annual Canada Day party. I really liked this one because it was nice and light. Plus its easy to make!

You will need:
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 package of cream cheese
1 container of cool whip
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp of lemon juice
2 package of lemon pudding
4 cups milk
Lemon for decoration on top

Directions:
1. Mix melted butter and graham crackers crumbs together. Place in a 9x13 baking dish spread out over entire pan
2. In another bowl mix cream cheese, 1 cup cool whip, sugar and lemon juice together. Then spread out over graham cracker crust.
3. In another bowl mix lemon pudding  and 4 cups of milk together. Then spread out of cream cheese mix.
4. Take the rest of the cool whip and spread over lemon pudding mix. Top with lemon as a garnish
5. Chill for 1 hour before serving.

No Bake Banana Split Dessert

Yesterday we had our annual Canada Day Party. My husband and I have this every year for all our family and friends and who else wants to show up! I love getting ready for this. Its stressful but tiring but I look forward to it each year. I always look for easy simple desserts that I think people will like. This year I made 2 new ones. At the end of the night there were only a few slices of each left. I think they were winners!

You will need:
1/2 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 package of cream cheese softened
1 container of cool whip
1/4 cup sugar
1 can crushed pineapple draind
4 bananas sliced
1 package of strawberries
1 small bottle of maraschino cherries
chocolate sauce that you would put on ice cream

Optional:
Sprinkles and nuts

Directions:
1. Mix melted butter and graham crackers together. Then put in a 9x13 pan.
2. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup cool whip, and sugar together. Then add crushed pineapple.
3. Put pineapple cream cheese mix in the pan as the next layer
4. Then place bananas and strawberries making the next 2 layers.
5. Then use the rest of the cool whip for the top layer
6. drizzle chocolate sauce and top with cherries.
7. Chill for one hour before serving

Canada Day Party

One of the many things I love about my husband is that he loves to have parties and I love to entertain. So when we knew had our first Canada Day party we knew it instantly that it would be a tradition every year. We look forward to it. We start planning in April and we get excited. We have it pretty much now down to a science. I love that our community comes together and helps us out and they look forward to having it too! I love the day of the party seeing our neighbours have their own little parties and then seeing people park on the side of the road getting ready to watch our fireworks. It makes it all worth it!
After many years of hosting a Canada Day party I thought I would compile a list of some must have's that will help with your Canada Day Party.
Please Note: This site does have affiliate links. which means if you click on the link and buy the product I do get a small fee for promoting.

1. Decorative Plates, Cups, Napkins ~ I usually try and find plates, cups and napkins with Canada Flags on them. I find they just add a little something!

2. Canada Flag ~ What is more patriotic then having a Canada Flag flying in front of your house on Canada day?

3. Canada Day Tshirt~ You need to wear your red and white! Lots of stores have super cheap Tshirts available. I have seen some at Walmart and Giant Tiger. I think even Old Navy does too!


4. Fireworks ~ You need to have fireworks for Canada day! Its just not right!! I have seen lots at the Great Canadian Dollar Store in Doaktown and Chatham and I have seen lots at Giant Tiger too!

5. Floating Lanterns ~ The last few years we have used floating lanterns at our Canada Day party. They look so pretty all floating in the air!

6. Water balloons ~ I don't know who the genius was that came up with water balloons all tied to thing that you put on your tap. All I can say is that he or she are now millionaires!!

7. Lots of BBQ ~  You can't have a party without BBQ. We have hamburgers and hot dogs. Sometimes we have chicken, streak or sausages. But whats a summer party with out BBQ something.. Plus lots of family and friends help make lots of good food!

8. Ice Machine ~ A lot of people think I am crazy but this little machine is the most amazing thing even. And we have already started making Ice for our party and freezing it. Plus its always nice to to icy cold water!

9. Washer Toss ~ Nothing like a good ole game of washer toss. I am not the biggest fan of this game but I love having my yard full of people playing the game

10. Inflatable pool for Food and Drinks ~ This has to be the best thing for parties! Especially during the summer. We have one its a pineapple shape.

If I haven't mentioned it yet we are super excited to be hosting our 8TH ANNUAL Canada Day Party. We enjoy having this party every year! We are slowly getting everything together for our big day on Saturday. We want to invite ALL our Family and Friends to our event! 

Whole Wheat Chicken Pot Pie

I love food... I love all kinds of food.. good food and bad food. But I have had to cut out the bad in my life. You don't realize what is in foods that isn't bad for you. Like Chicken Pot Pie. It sounds like it would be good because its full of veggies and chicken... but the crust is full of enriched white flour and if you use cream of chicken soup that too isn't that good for you! Today I set out on a mission.. to make my favorite comfort food... healthy! I think I did a pretty good job. I found a few recipes and mixed them all together and ta da.. the end result!

You will need:
For the filling
- 2-3 chicken breast chopped up and cooked
- whatever veggies you want it it. I put peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, corn. You can add one potato, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, whatever you feel like today!
- 3 tbsp of whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 can chicken broth

For the biscuit topping
- 3/4 cup milk
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt


Directions:

1. Cut up chicken and cook in a sauce pan
2. once cooked then add veggies and cook them for a few mins until soft
3. Mix whole wheat flour and chicken broth together. Then add to saucepan and then add the milk 
4. Let it simmer until veggies are cooked
5. For the biscuit topping. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix. 
6. Place veggie mix in a baking dish (with a cover or cover with tin foil) and top with biscuit mix. Spread out the biscuit mix then cover
7. Bake at 425 for about 30 mins or until biscuit topping is cooked
8. Let stand for a few mins to cool and then serve

8 Easy Peasy Self Care Tips

I have always been the person that did things for every one else. I was always taught thats what you do. There were days I was going straight out from 6 am until 10 -11pm at night. I was getting burnt out. My husband and I were fighting all the time. I was getting photos back to my clients longer than usual. I was getting snappy. Finally my husband said you need to start taking time for yourself. He said it's not selfish. Its necessary. At first I felt very guilty. I would think about ALL the things that needed to get done. But eventually I started thinking.. who cares if the dishes arent done? Who cares if my laundry isn't done? Who cares if the kids have to make their own lunch (they are 12/13 they can do it all by themselves) Clients will understand if it takes a bit to get their photos. So I started.... I started going to the gym, making chores for the kids, shutting my editing off at 9pm and going to watch my favorite show, taking a bubble bath. I noticed a change in me. I noticed I was happier, I wasn't fighting with others as much, I was feeling relaxed more. Now its a routine. I have a certain routine and I do it almost every day. I don't feel one bit guilty anymore!

Self care is the practice of taking time for yourself and no one else. Its carving out time to focus on yourself. It sound selfish but it needs to be done. if you don't take time for yourself its just a matter of time before you burn out.  Your body and mind will thank you. If it means Pj's and eating a tub of ice cream then do it! At first its hard but keep going!! You can do it!

Here are some cheap and easy self care ideas for you!

1. Start a journal
Write something down every day. Whether its 5 things you are Grateful for or just a book of ideas or a detailed account of your day. Some ideas you can write about are your goals, reflection on your day, inspiration quotes, ideas, dreams.

2. Affirmations
Affirmations can stop negative self talk and build confidence. In my bathroom I have a couple post it notes by my mirror. I look at them every time I am in the bathroom. I say them to my self every morning as I am getting ready.
Here are a few to help you:
- I am enough
- I am ready
- I am strong
- I believe in myself
- I have a caring heart
- Today is going to be a good day

3. Sip and Read
There is something about holding a warm beverage that makes you feel good. Make yourself some tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Just sit and read with a good book or magazine! Just sip and relax. Why not get on your comfy clothes and sit in your fav spot and just sip and read!

4.Take a walk without your cell phone
 Put your phone on airplane mode and listen to your favorite music and relax. When was the last time you shut your phone off ? Lately when I have been going to the gym I have been putting my phone on airplane mode its so much better!
Walking relieves stress, improves your mood and clears your mind :)

5. Watch your favorite movie
Grab a snack, get in your comfy clothes, snuggle on the couch and indulge in your favorite movie. Your brain needs time to turn off and be entertained. Last week was just a crazy week and Saturday night my hubby and I rented a movie and vegged out on the couch. It was worth it. My brain felt so good just focus on something else and relax!

6 Bake yourself a treat
I love to bake (if you didnt know). I use baking as a stress reliever. When was the last time you baked something? Put on your favorite music, dance in the kitchen, bake for fun.. and lick the spoon!

7. Have a bubble bath.
I love having a a bubble bath. Especially with bath bombs! Check out my favorite places to buy bath bombs ( Betty Bath Bombs and This Soap Company) Just go to the bathroom close the door (lock it if you have to), have some candles, put on some music and just relax

8. Colouring
I love colouring!! When I was in university during a stressful time I would colour to help me to relax. There are so many different colouring books out there from adult ones to inspiration quotes. My favourite are kids Christmas ones lol I am weird like that!

Cauliflower "Potato" Salad

Yes! Yes, I did. I made cauliflower "potato" salad..... and it was a win! I was quite impressed. Even the family gave it a try!

You will need:
1 head of cauliflower
4 boiled eggs cooked and chopped
1 cup helmans mayo
1/4 tsp mustard
1 tsp stevia
salt and pepper to taste


Directions:
Chop the cauliflower in small pieces and cook until fork tender. Do not cook any longer as its kind of mush. Then cook the eggs, peel and chop. Put eggs and cauliflower in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl mix mayo, mustard, and stevia. Then put in cauliflower mix. Then add salt and pepper to taste. Put in fridge until ready to serve.

** you can add bacon and onions to this if you want.**