Poutine Fest & Some Bed Rest

It has been a bit of a challenging week for me.  I have been having cramping/pain in my belly, sides and back more frequently this week.  I have been taking it easy and it seems to resolve itself for a while.  But it does seem to come back if I am not just laying around in bed (which at 26 weeks I am not really looking to go on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy).  So I am going to try and mix rest with low activity and hopefully I can still remain a bit active for the last 3 months.

That being said the Hubs and I took advantage of "Poutine Fest" which was this weekend in downtown Ottawa.  It was such a fun time.  I ate crispy chicken poutine and finished it off with a Churro.  To complete the date night the Hubs and I watched the "Avengers" movie to freshen up on the past events and to get ready for the second Avengers movie coming out next weekend.

Excited to be out and getting poutine

The truck I finally settled on; Lou's Fast Food

My crispy chicken poutine.  So yummy and I didn't get any heartburn after.  WooHoo!!

Not a very exciting week since I have spent quite some time in bed with my feet up (yup that's how I currently writing this post).  But hopefully this is just a new symptom and will pass in about a week.  Until then I wonder if I can find an ice cream delivery service (aside from the Hubs).

Choose to be Optimistic.  It Feels Better

**Here are some more bump pics.  The little nugget is getting so big and is moving around a tons (my stomach looks like a alien is trying to get out)

21 weeks

23 weeks

24 weeks

25 weeks

26 weeks

April TopBox Review

It has been a LONG time since I have done a post on my TopBox.  But trying to stick with my resolution of being a better blogger I have decided to start my TopBox reviews again (since I haven't stopped getting the box).  So read on to see my April TopBox.

Every month I get a little surprise in the mail.  It's my monthly Topbox. 

Topbox is a monthly beauty service that delivers " luxe box of beauty samples for you to try out in the comfort of your home."

For about $15/month I get to try out about 5 sample and quite often full size products.  I LOVE getting my little present every month.

For anyone who is interested in checking out what they are all about go to Topbox

The products I got this month:

Deborah Lippmann - Luxurious Nail Colour - She Drives Me Crazy

What TopBox Says: "A luxury line of award winning nail lacquers, created working with iconic figures in fashion from Cher to Sarah Jessica Parker.  For best looking nails, apply 2 coats of polish."  - $20 for 15mL

What I say: This is a great summer colour for my toes.  Can't wait to give it a go.  I have used her polish before, they have great pigment and coverage.

Would I purchase: I would get different colours if/when they go on sale.

Me MAXEffects Naturals

What TopBox says: "Gently wipes make and impurities away while balancing the skin's pH." - $7.5 for 65mL

What I Say: I haven't tried these yet, but they are great for my travel kit.

Would I purchase: Maybe if I was looking for a substitute for my pre-moisten clothes.

Matrix Style Link - Smooth Setter Smoothing Cream **Full size product received**

What TopBox Says: "Your link to smoothness with control.  This cream textures delivers satin finish and doesn't weight down hair for a natural movement." - $16.25 for 118mL

What I say: This was great.  It made my hair very smooth and soft.  I used it on damp hair then went to sleep, the next day my hair looked pretty good. 

Would I purchase: Yes

Philosophy - Miracle worker overnight

What TopBox Says: "Apply after cleansing and treatment as a nighttime or daytime moisturizer." - $117 for 118mL

What I say: I haven't noticed a big difference between this face cream and my regular one.  Not a big fan that there is no SPF in it (something I think ALL face creams should include)

Would I purchase: No.  The price is just too extreme to justify.

**Bonus Item** Hawaiian Tropics Sunscreen spf30

This was a bonus item and therefore doesn't have a write up on it.  But it's a readily available sunscreen and with summer right around the corner I was very excited to see this in my box.

Would I purchase: It smells great and I would absolutely purchase.

Pancakes, Maple Syrup and some Fresh Air

It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend this weekend in Ottawa.  Originally suppose to be overcast and 12 degrees with maybe rain on Saturday, the day turned into 14 and sunny.  With my parents up visiting for the weekend we decided to take full advantage of the awesome spring weather.

When S tcalled?? about the Fulton's Pancake House and Sugar Bush located about 45mins away from Ottawa I was down for a Saturday trip.  I have done maple syrup tours before (in grade school) but it has been a really long time.  So early in the afternoon on Saturday the Hubs, 'rents and myself loaded into the car and took off for a drive and some maple goodies.

They had goats!!!! Even being snubbed by the goat is better then no goat at all.

The Hubs trying out an Aboriginal resting bed (he said it was pretty comfy)

A little demonstration of some Aboriginal tools used back in the day

The Hubs and myself in another shelter area.  Yup that's a butterfly on my face (I was fancy)

My dad checking out how "comfy" the facilities used to be

It wouldn't have been a trip to a maple syrup farm (is that what they're called?) without ending it with some yummy food.  I ate so much and was ready for a sugar coma to kick in. 

Pancakes and maple baked beans.  SOOOOOOOOO yummy

But we had passed a sign about a fudge store so we decided to take a little detour and pick up some fudge.  Unfortunately Penny's Fudge Factory was closed but the country drive was a lot of fun and I probably didn't need anymore sugar.

 A great way to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, and a visit with the 'rents. Plus I found out my mom had never been to a maple syrup place before.  So 1 check for her bucket list.

A Sense of Peace and Gratefulness.

I was laying in bed (watching bad for me reality TV) while fighting a bit of a cold/allergies this weekend.  The hubs was working hard turning his old art studio into the nursery and I was over come with this amazing sense of gratefulness. 

It's a feeling that I am a bit sorry to say I haven't had much of lately.  The whole act of "trying" to get pregnant (over 2 years) and also using a fertility clinic left me with less of a feeling of gratefulness and more of a feeling of failure and hopelessness.

Having a baby was something that I never really wanted in my life, but it was something that the Hubs has ALWAYS wanted.  There were lots of times that I had the thought that since I didn't want a baby before maybe that's why we weren't getting pregnant now.  And once we got our little one I have had a very difficult pregnancy.

But I have made my peace with my pregnancy troubles (and really since the vomiting has stopped it's been a LOT easier), and accepting that things are really not going to go the way that I want them to things have been a lot smoother/enjoyable.

So on this afternoon while sitting around trying to breath through my plugged up nose, listening to the Hubs paint the walls, I just feel so lucky.  My life is by no means perfect but the more I figure out how to be an adult the more I am finding that it's not about life being perfect, it's about finding the good and keeping the faith that you really are destined for happiness.