Tickled Pink: Two Month {Update}

Our First Swim in our new pool as a family!!!!

Well hello my friends sorry for taking so long to post. It's been too long. Here is an update of what has been going on in our lives over the last 2.5 months. Hold on tight it's a jam packed one!!

1. Claire's birthday was on April 25th. We did it up in style for our first little princess. She loves to do art and will spend hours colouring, making cards or writing at her art table so I thought an art party would be perfect for her. I booked the art studio at Artful Owl on Corydon Ave. We invited our friends and their little ones. The lady who owns it organized a Monet waterlily painting for each of the children and she read them a couple stories about art. After the art and stories we had Carbone Pizza deliver pizzas there, I brought fruit and veggie plater as well. I baked the chocolate quinoa cake for her to blow our her candles with and make a wish, the cake was divine! I loved this party idea because I just had to bring everything with me but had to do none of the clean up or make sure my house was in order ahead of time, perfect!

2. We have the most beautiful backyard paradise after many many months of planning, fretting, frustrations, rainy days and getting her done. We love how everything has come together and couldn't be happier. Kyle set up a time lapse on the iPad to document the final day of the pool being installed in June, wow, impressive. Eight guys over 8 hours were able to install the pool liner. So cool to watch!

3. Our basement is finally complete as well. We started the basement in late fall of 2015 and it was finally complete this June, it took way too long, but what project doesn't take longer than expected right?!?! We are so happy with how it turned out, the bathroom, wet bar, fire place, craft room and open free space in the rec room is awesome for the girls. Wouldn't change a thing!

4. We bought new furniture for our upstairs living room. It is gorgeous and I LOVE it! We ordered through an interior designer we worked with through Maric Homes at Interior Illusions. It's a grey sectional have leather half fabric. Two chairs in the same fabric, a reclaimed barn wood coffee table with matching nest tables. I bought lots of accessories from all over, Urban Barn, These Four Walls, and Ikea as well as some pieces at Interior Illusions. We commissioned a local painter from Arnes Manitoba to paint a piece for our front hallway. She did one for our master bathroom that we love so it was a no brainer to get her to do another one for us. I did turquoise, whites, green and purple. Love those colours! We are just waiting on our console table to arrive through Interior Illusions it has a concrete top and silver legs that match the sofa and chairs. Beautiful!

5. Tone it Up!!! Well I started a new fitness and nutrition program on April 25th with the advice from my friend Erica. She had been doing it since the new year and recommend it to me. I had always wanted to try something to feel healthier and in shape. I knew I wasn't eating the best foods, though people will say "Shannon, you are SO healthy!" but I would eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, including lots of sugary things, baked goods, chocolate chips by the handful whenever preparing in the kitchen, ugh! 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips is 70 calories and that adds up after several handfuls. Since starting this program I feel AMAZING!! I have so much energy, I mean the odd day I'm a little tired but I feel so good after completing the workouts in the morning. I have more energy and the recipes are delicious and easy to make. I don't feel gross either because I'm not eating carbs, refined sugars or dairy anymore, no more bloating. I don't miss that feeling at all. I also look in the mirror now and love the way I look and feel proud that I have been able to accomplish something mentally and physically challenging. I will continue to follow this because it is just a good way to live and feed your body with the right stuff. Clean, Lean and Green!!! All the way baby!

Before Starting TIU

My behind before starting TIU

After 8 weeks of TIU

Healthy TIU salad!

The girls and Kyle will often workout with me too!

Meal Prep Sunday

After 8 weeks on TIU

Love Black Coffee Now, no sugar or milk!

6. Summer holidays has started for me, hip hip hooray!!! My last day of work was June 30th! I planned to use the pool as much as I can with my girls. I have pulled them out of daycare for the summer to spend time with me. Kyle will be working for most of the summer but has booked off some weeks here and there until the end of August. We are going out to our friends cabin Julie and Rob's just past Kenora the weekend of July 15th. The week of July 18th Claire is in an I Spy summer camp through the city at Whyte Ridge school for just the mornings. July25th for three nights we have a camp site booked in Rushing River to venture out as a family for the first time since Claire was 9 months old. Ahhh! Sound be interesting! The first week in August Claire has another summer camp for dance in the mornings at Shelley Shearer. That has been the extent of our summer plans so far. Lots of hosting friends and family to enjoy our pool together! We love to host!

Saying goodbye to some of my students!

Final countdown on June 30th

7. We hosted a big Canada Day party on July 1st with all our friends. We were able to enjoy a gorgeous day out by the pool, the weather was just perfect! We had so much food, delicious and lots of variety. The kids all had a great time swimming, playing in the play house, and trampoline. It think this will become a tradition at the McMurtry household!