The Newlywed Life

Hi, I'm Aly! Welcome to where I share my thoughts on working out, food, fashion and all things pretty. I am striving to balance a career that I love with being a wife, friend and runner. Thanks for visiting - I hope you stay awhile.

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Hey! I think the Britax B-Agile travel system is our top choice right now. I did try out the Uppa Baby- you're right it's a large stroller. A little larger than I'd like, but what a beautiful stroller it is!

It pushes like a dream but honestly, it takes up almost our whole trunk and we have a huge SUV! We also have an umbrella stroller that we’ll use when H is a bit older. I hope the baby prep is going well!

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My new baby!

I am excited to introduce you all to my new baby / lifestyle blog, Aly in Motherland which went live yesterday.

I love the Tumblr community but I was keen to create a new space on the web, one that I could grow and really make my own which why I’ve decided to house the new blog on Blogger.

The content that I plan to share on Aly in Motherland will be quite similar to what I share on Tumblr and will include posts about fashion, food, fitness and of course, lots of baby related content.

I hope that some of you will continue reading my posts on my new site. Either way, I do plan on sticking around Tumblr so you’re not rid of me yet :).

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Sleep favourites - 6 weeks

Over the past few days my sweet baby boy has been alternating between screaming and smiling, especially when the schedule says it is “time” to sleep. 

As Henry is just six weeks old we still have a lot of kinks to work out when it comes to sleeping but we’re doing our best to create a routine. I’ve included a few items that are part of that routine and that I really love, please feel free to make some suggestions, I am always looking for ways to make sleep easier, as I’m sure all parents are!

Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium:

This is a new addition to Henry’s nursery and he really seems to love looking at the fish and listening to the sweet lullabies. What I love about this aquarium is that it plays the most smoothing music and best of all, it can be turned on and off by a remote - no risk of Henry seeing my face while he is trying to soothe himself to sleep. The aquarium has replaced the white noise machine that we were previously using as I’ve read quite a bit of conflicting information on white noise machines so we’re taking a break from it, at least for now.

Sleep Sack:

There are tons of options out there but I have to admit that my favourite one is $12 from Wal-Mart. Organic cotton it is not, but the sack is soft, easy to put on and off and the pattern is cute. Best of all, I can buy one for every night of the week without breaking the bank. We had been swaddling Henry until this weekend but he was really fighting it so we decided to let him be “free” - the jury is still out on if it is improving his sleep.

Video monitor:

We have this one which does the trick - I will say that the night vision isn’t amazing but it is totally fine. This is a must for me as I do let Henry “fuss” for about five minutes before going to settle him. Everyone’s opinion differs on this but I’m okay with a little bit of noise during the sleep cycle.

Avent Pacifiers:

I switched Henry from the Soothies to the classic Avent pacifier and they seem to stay in his mouth so much better. The Soothies just seemed so large - I am sad to be retiring the Wubbanubs as they are so darn cute and convenient.

Let me know what else I should add to my list!

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Our sweet baby Henry is six weeks old today so I decided that it was about time that I share some of his newborn photos. We had these taken when he was two weeks old which worked out well since he was born two weeks early, he was still so sleepy but a little less skinny which made for some amazing photos.

My direction for the photographer was simple, I’m not a huge fan of props and accessories in newborn photos and while we do have a few more hat photos than I’d like, as a whole I am very pleased with them. There is no doubt that newborn photos are an investment but I’m so pleased to have these to look back on, especially as Henry is changing every day, especially his hair line!

If anyone is in the GTA I would highly recommend our photographer, her name is Michelle Collis and her prices were quite reasonable, especially compared to other newborn photographers in the city.

[lisahannam]

I’ll have it forever. Unlike a bridal gown, it won’t sit in a box. I’ll bring it out for special occasions like fashionable work functions, date nights and when I need a pick-me-up. I bought THE BAG – Chanel’s Wallet On A Chain. I’ll have it forever.

While it might seem lavish to spend the Chanel price tag on a purse, even with my dress and shoes, what I spent on my wedding day look was less than what some women spend on their gown alone. Plus, I’ll have it forever.

It was my most prized possession, second to my engagement ring and wedding band. I truly love it. It’s me in a purse. My style, my taste, my dream bag. I’ll have it forever.

On June 1st, on an Air Canada plane from Toronto to Vancouver, my wedding keepsake got lost. I was headed to Vancouver for work (fancy dinner was on the itinerary) and I packed my Chanel in my carryon. I was only going to be there one night.

As I went to grab my bag from the overhead bin, it wasn’t where I put it. I looked in another bin and I grabbed what looked like my bag. I knew immediately it wasn’t mine. So the flight attendant and I rushed to get announcements made, and I ran to the checked luggage carousel to see if my carryon twin was there. She wasn’t.

I turned her bag in, and I was told, based on the contents, she was likely headed on a connection to Asia.

So now it’s just a waiting game. She has to make the call and turn in my luggage. But if she hasn’t opened it, she won’t know.

I know it’s just a bag. But like many women love their dress, or even their shoes, this is my bag. My memory. So if you love fashion, weddings or are just a Chanel girl, please share my story. I’m hoping it reaches the woman who has my bag.

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June Goals

It has been quite some time since I’ve sat down and thought about what I’d like to accomplish in the month ahead. I love the first day of the month as it is like a totally new slate and since every day might as well be Monday these days, I like the idea of being able to start over every 30 days or so.

My goals for the next month are certainly not ambitious but I think they’re doable and since I hate to fail, I figure I might as well aim low and do my best to hit it out of the park!

1) Eat a big salad every single day

2) Exercise (walks count!) six days a week

3) Enjoy each and every day with Henry, even when he is fighting sleep!

4) Go on at least two date nights with Mike

5) Blow dry and straighten my hair more than once a week

6) Give Molly the love and attention that she deserves

7) Fold and put away laundry in a timely fashion

8) Continue to focus on whole foods and tons of water

9) Make plans with my girlfriends

10) Continue to blog on a regularly basis

Anyone have any June goals to share? 

Image via

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My Space

Right before Henry was born we decided to turn a corner of our dining room into a teeny, tiny office, just for me! We bought my favourite, cheap desk from Ikea and paired it with my beautiful new Mac - it is simple and relatively clutter free, exactly what I wanted.

I use “my space” every single day, mostly for blogging / blog reading but also to Google everything under the sun - these days it is mostly related to babies and sleeping. 

As I struggle with the fact that I’m on a break from my real office / career, this space encourages me to challenge my mind in new ways and provides a much needed break from the everyday. 

It’s amazing what a tiny corner of space can do for me and I’m so happy to have it.

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One-Piece Wonders:

I’m looking at adding a fabulous one-piece bathing suit to my summer wardrobe. I am hoping to get back into bikinis eventually but at this point, I would be much more comfortable in a one-piece, ideally one that makes me look 10 pounds lighter and a heck of a lot more toned, any suggestions?

Dotty one-piece, JCrew // Trina Turk (dream suit!) // Flounce one-piece, Victoria’s Secret

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Obviously this should be taken with a grain of salt but now that Henry is in his crib, I am personally not comfortable having him sleep with the Wubbanub at night. After reading this, I think we will stick to using the Wubbanub in just the stroller and the car seat. Not trying to be a Negative Nancy, just wanted to share with other parents!

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White Denim on a Budget

I consider white jeans to be a spring / summer staple and I love the way they look paired with everything from a t-shirt and flip flops to a silk blouse and heels. Because I wear white jeans at least a few times a week, I tend to go through a pair every single season, especially since I am a bit of a klutz and tend to spill on everything. Add a baby to the mix and a transitional body, I am certainly in the market for a new pair this season. I’d prefer not to break the bank as I have no doubt that this pair will end up stained with spit-up and Rose by the end of the summer. 

I’ve pulled together some of my favourite budget friendly white jeans, anyone have any additions? I have also heard that sizing up in white denim can make the pants a bit more forgiving, thoughts?

GAP Skimmer Jeans, $69 (you know these can be snagged at 40% off!)

Joe Fresh White Jeans, $19.94 (at this price I might as well buy two pairs next time I’m at the grocery store!)

Old Navy Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans, $21.50 (hoping the mid-rise will help suck in my new mummy tummy!)

H & M White Jean, $19.95

JCrew Factory White Jeans, $59.50 (These are currently on sale but still on the “pricier” side based on the others)

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Kitchen Happenings

As mentioned yesterday, I am all about healthy eating these days and since I have a newborn, I’m also all about meals that can be prepared with one hand or during my baby’s unpredictable nap time. Since my husband and I are currently on a gluten free kick (he is much more dedicated than I am!) they also need to fit his current diet regime.

Two magical things happened in our kitchen today - pre-made smoothie packs and thai-style chicken burgers a la Gwyneth Paltrow.

Let’s start with the smoothie packs, these are beyond easy to make, I can’t even call them a recipe. Add your smoothie ingredients to a ziplock (I used 1/2 a banana, 2 cups of kale, 1 cup of pineapple and a few strawberries per pack), seal bag and place in freezer. When ready to use, dump pack into blender along with liquid of choice (I like almond milk or straight water), chia seeds and yogurt (optional!) and blend. It took me literally 5 minutes to make 8 packs and I have no idea why I’ve never made these before.

Henry took an amazing nap in his crib this afternoon so I was able to prep dinner, much to Mike’s shock! The chicken burgers from the GOOP site were seriously delicious and minus quite a bit of chopping, very easy to prepare. The burgers don’t use breadcrumbs as a binder but are instead held together by cilantro, shallots and garlic. I was dubious but Mike threw them on the barbecue and they held together beautifully, I can’t wait to make these again although I plan on investing in a mini Cuisinart between now and then. Also, don’t be turned off by the fish sauce, you don’t notice it at all and it stops the burgers from being dry and boring.

I’ll be sure to continue sharing new recipes / kitchen tricks as I discover them if you all are interested! 

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Post-Baby Fitness / Diet Plans

After a year of trying to get pregnant, nine months of pregnancy and almost five weeks of recovery, I am feeling the itch to get back on the fitness and clean eating wagon. I was never perfect when it came to diet but I was pretty good and on the fitness front, I’ve never had trouble pushing myself but over the past couple of years, I haven’t been able to go as hard or as long as I used to. Baby Henry is worth every single ounce of cellulite and extra pounds but I am keen to get back to where I was or at the very least, a new normal where I feel confident in my skin. I’m not delusional enough to think I’ll ever go back to my early 20-something abs but I am hoping to find a balance.

Sadly, there aren’t any quick fixes so I’ll be getting my pre-baby body back the old fashioned way through, healthy eating, tons of water and balanced exercise. My body is still recovering from childbirth and I’m still pumping so I need to be careful on the exercise front as too much, too soon can cause serious damage. Right now my routine includes long stroller walks and some stretching. I hope to slowly add in some running, spinning and weights once I get the go ahead from the OB at my six week appointment. I miss endorphin pumping workouts!

To help get my butt in gear on the diet front, I’m trying to prep dinner during Henry’s nap time (when I can), staying away from processed carbs and eating as many vegetables as I can. The first few weeks of motherhood were all about survival and I ate enough pizza / pasta to last me a year, I am so ready to welcome big salads and smoothies back into my life.

I’ll be sure to share my journey with you all, if I get really brave I might post some before photos / stats but I’m not sure that I’m ready to share THAT much detail with the whole internet!

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13 Healthy One-Pot Meals, Because Who Has Time During the Week?

When you're eating clean, cooking dinner at home is ideal, but we all know that's a lot easier said than done. The one thing that makes weeknight cooking significantly easier is cooking everything in one pot or pan — postmeal cleanup is instantly

Love these one-pot meals from Pop Sugar, because honestly, who has time for anything else? I can’t wait to try the salmon with crispy cabbage and kale and the everything kale salad, I have a feeling that may become my go to lunch!

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Care for a coffee?

Friday morning seems like a great time for a coffee date with girlfriends, don’t you think? Since most of my friends are at the office and I’m still in my sweats, I decided we would make this coffee date virtual, care to join me? if so, read on for what’s on my mind today.

This week was a busy one as Mike took his first overnight business trip since Henry was born. The two days / nights he was gone for were long and I am beyond grateful for my mother-in-law who took Henry for a walk yesterday so I could have a much needed shower. We’re so lucky to have such amazing help and support from both of our families, I can’t even imagine how hard it must be for those of you raising babies all on your own.

I am continuing to exclusively pump as Henry has had latching issues since day one. After consistently trying to get him to latch and seeing a lactational consultant, I decided to go the route of pumping, at her suggestion. I know that this is a very personal topic but for me, pumping has been the best decision. I pump 6 - 7 times a day and I’m lucky enough to produce enough milk to feed Henry and to stock our freezer. I hope to continue for a few more weeks and then go the ½ breast milk and ½ formula route for as long as my supply will last. Pumping is a ton of work, painful (plugged ducts, ouch!) and very time consuming so I am looking forward to dropping some pumps when I can.

I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, yeah! Granted, they are boyfriend jeans so forgiving when it comes to size but I am considering it a huge win. I don’t own a scale so I have no idea what my weight is compared to pre-pregnancy but I do know that things have really shifted - I have the dreaded mommy pooch, my hips are wider and everything feels squishy. I am so grateful that I was able to carry Henry for those nine long months but I am feeling ready to hit the gym again. Really looking forward to my six week appointment on June 6 and hopefully getting the go ahead to run again.

I’ve started Henry on a schedule and we are both really thriving on it. My type-A personality couldn’t handle going with the flow and I hated seeing my little man screaming because he was overtired. He is only four weeks old so I push up feedings and extend nap times as needed but as a whole, he has really adapted well to the 3-hour system. I also started crib training Henry this week  for naps and while it can be a long process, he is starting to get better at putting himself to sleep. I try to get him to take at least two to three of his daily naps in the crib while the remainder are taken in his stroller, swing or on me. I know I should commit to doing them all in the crib but I can’t handle being house bound so I’m hoping to raise an adaptable baby, we’ll see how this goes. I plan on moving Henry to the crib full time once he hits six weeks so I’m hoping having nap time in there will help the process. 

So, that’s it! I hope you all enjoyed your coffee, I only had to microwave mine once so that’s a small victory, I’ll take what I can get.

[newlywedbalance]

Baby Must Haves - Month One:

While I am still a total amateur when it comes to being a mom, I do want to share a few of the products that have made the last four weeks just a little bit easier. Moms, feel free to share your favourites!

Wubbanub: This stuffed toy / pacifier combination is a godsend. Henry loved it from day one, it is easy to find in the diaper bag, so simple to wash and best of all, cute to look at. We have two and I am seriously thinking about buying another, especially as we start to transition Henry to the crib. At first I balked at the cost but I promise it is worth it.

Fisher-Price Bouncer: We were given this bouncy chair (ours is slightly different) as a hand me down and it is without a doubt the most used baby item in our house. Henry sits in it when he’s being a fusspot, when I need to use two hands and when Mike and I eat dinner together (a rarity!). I will be the first to admit that it is an eyesore but at $50 it is worth every penny. We do also have the Mamaroo which Henry hates… hoping that changes soon!

UppaBaby Vista: We live in the city and have one car so for us, a good stroller was a must! We were lucky enough to have Mike’s parents buy us our stroller which was incredibly generous, especially given the UppaBaby’s hefty price tag. We chose the UB because it will grow with us as a family, it comes with a bassinet and it is easy to push - after a month with the Vista, I am so happy that we went with it, I love it and use it at least twice a day.

Swaddleme: I know I shared my love for these swaddles last week but just wanted to reiterate how much they’ve helped Henry (and us!) sleep. I could never get a tight swaddle with a regular blanket, especially in the middle of the night. Thanks to the velcro on the Swaddleme I get a tight fit every time. Keep an eye out for these on Amazon as they go on sale regularly, I just got two for the price of one!

Carter’s Sleepers: These sleepers are my favourite because they’re cute, cheap and comfortable - the perfect trifecta when it comes to baby clothes. Henry lived in these for his first two weeks of life and still wears at least one a day to bed and sometimes for “lounging”.

Pamper’s Swaddlers: To be totally transparent, I wanted to use the Honest diapers but I found the cost to be too much so we started with Pamper’s Swaddlers from day one and I have been very happy with them. No leaks (yet!) and the blue wetness indicator is quite handy, especially in the early days.

Honorary mentions: Aden and Anais swaddle blankets, all the Starbuck’s, helpful parents / in-laws, a Netflix account and multiple Apple iPhone / iPad chargers.

[newlywedbalance]

Adjusting to my new normal

As I am about to enter my second month on maternity leave I wanted to share some thoughts on how I am adjusting to my new job as mummy to baby Henry. I have a sleeping boy in my arms so I am going to be lazy and use bullet points, bad blogging practice, I know!

- No books, blogs or advice could prepare me for the joy and the loneliness that comes with being a full time mom but like any job, you figure it out and make it work. Some days are better than others but my main coping mechanism is to get out at least once a day and to always put on “real” clothes.

- Learning on the job is key in my new role and my position is constantly evolving. Henry keeps me on my toes and while I can finally identify his different cries, I still have no idea if he’s going to cooperate for nap time or if my tiny tyrant will fight sleep all morning long (photo number two!).

- Overtime is a given and in my case, overtime is the everything else bucket. Laundry, dishes, general tidiness are all overtime jobs and while I do my best to stay on top of these things, I know I could do a better job. At this point, I’m just not willing to sacrifice sleep to get it done.

- Watching Netflix on the job is a must, as is a fully charged phone. Between exclusively pumping and late night feedings, I am glued to my phone. I am now that annoying person who likes photos on Insta the second they’re posted (don’t judge) but it takes me days or even weeks to respond to an email. And those thank you cards just stare at me every single day, I need to get to them this weekend!

- Working as a team with my husband has always been important but even more so now that we have a new player to take care of. Things aren’t pretty in the first few weeks postpartum and I swear we were actually business associates at one point but things are getting better. Communication has been our saving grace, as it is in most job situations.

- A sense of wanting something more is normal… I think. I occasionally get a longing for my old life, one that included skinny jeans that fit, high heels, straight hair and tons of adult interaction. I know that some form of my old life is still out there, I just need to find out how it fits with my new reality.

[newlywedbalance]

Keeping it real: Henry can be quite the fusspot! Good thing he's cute. #feedmenow #mommylife #hankthetank