From the Playpen

Family & Food

Pork Cutlets with Mushrooms, Peppers & Onions

When it comes to quick meals, this one has got to be one of my weeknight favourites. Its packed full of flavour, can be prepped and on the table in under 25 minutes and is totally versatile.While I'm using pork cutlets, you can absolutely substitute this with chicken, turkey or even pork chops. It's also a great way to incorporate any vegetables that need to be used up before they go to waste. Bell peppers, mushrooms and onions are staples in our house and I love using them in dishes like this. The peppers add a great crunch, the mushrooms soak up all the juices and onions add a sweetness and sharpness which in my opinion hits the spot!  Growing up, my mom made a dish very similar to this

6 Makeup Brushes You Need

So you've bought some makeup and you're excited to try out your new purchases. I'm excited for you too, but have you thought about how you're going to put them on? After spending lots of money on your makeup, we want to ensure that you get the best results when using them and having the right tools to apply your makeup is key! When it comes down to your beauty routine, there's three things you'll need: skin care, makeup and your makeup tools. While it may sound costly, it doesn't have to be! Today I'm going to share with you the essential makeup brushes you'll need for your everyday makeup. I own an unnecessary amount of makeup brushes and have narrowed this list down to some of my

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Growing up, I was that kid with the "weird" lunches. You know that scene from my Big Fat Greek Wedding where Toula opens her moussaka lunch and her classmates teased her saying she was eating "moose ka-ka"? That was me. I was Toula. I wanted to be that peanut butter and jelly sandwich kid growing up because that's what "normal" people ate. But instead, I was the Italian girl eating Mortadella sandwiches with pickled eggplants that my classmates thought were worms. Toula and I would have been BFF's, I just know it. While I have now grown to appreciate food and would choose a Mortadella sandwich over PB &J any day, I still struggle with lunches for work and hear parents complaining about

I’m a Dreamer and a Realist

I'm a dreamer but also a realist. Yeah, I'm sure you can just imagine how well those two traits do when paired together. Spoiler alert - the outcome isn't very good. The dreamer in me has these grand plans and big ideas but the realist storms in and shuts those dreams down because they seem like unattainable goals. Can any of you relate? As much as I preach about living a positive life, I'll be the first to admit that I constantly doubt myself and my decisions. I suppose it all comes down to the fear of failure. Now more than ever, I have a huge responsibility to raise my daughter with my husband and to create a good life for her. That's a lot of pressure! Raising a human is no easy feat

5 Reasons Not to Plan Out Your March Break

I can't believe that next week is March break! As someone who works in schools, I look forward to this time of year because the school year is LONG and teachers, secretaries and admin staff are SPENT! We totally deserve this break. But I get it...  what are you going to do with your children at home for a solid week?! The thought of having to entertain the kids can be daunting. Their friends may be going on vacation or have big activities planned and you're here scrambling to compete with those parents and come up with ideas on how to keep everyone happy and occupied without breaking the bank. Well I'm here to tell you that it's okay. It's okay that you don't have activities planned for

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