Welcome to our minimalist home house tour. Pretty much all that you see is all that we own. We like to live simple. I would like to clarify, that being a minimalist doesn’t mean you are cheap or don’t like nice things. On the contrary, I appreciate beautiful things. I value them. I buy quality items but I don’t need a ton of things to find happiness. I am content with the few amazing things I do own. Also, I like to know that everything has a place. I like to have the things that we need. I enjoy a clutter-free environment. Maybe the concept of minimalist living isn’t for you, but I am sure yo ..read more

Ok readers…I am going to start by saying, this is probably the most ridiculous but fun game ever! My boys thought Flushin’ Frenzy by toy maker Mattel was hilarious. The concept of a poop (which btw every kid thinks is hilarious) flying out of a toilet is probably the silliest game I have seen.  I think Stefano’s face says it all! So what are the pros with this one? well, you are going to get a ton of giggles and laughing with this game and funny enough, you will also get a ton of learning as well. Set up is easy, put the toilet together, get your plunger ready, tuck the poop into th ..read more

Updated. It’s been a year since my last post about gift giving over the holiday season so this year I wanted to revisit this post and update it with some content for my new and original followers… Less stuff and more love. Often I am asked about gift giving and receiving over the holidays. I thought I would take some time to give you a few ideas and my thoughts around approaching the holidays with more intention and less stuff. This post I am sharing ideas on how to minimize all the wants and focus on the concept of thoughtful giving & spending quality time together as a family. Ridiculou ..read more

So many of you wanted this recipe posted, so here it is! This is a household favorite at the Battistessa home. These clean and easy to make healthy blueberry muffins are a perfect snack or warmed up for breakfast with some peanut butter. I like to make two batches and freeze one for the boys to grab and go when they need a quick snack. You can warm them in in the microwave for 30 seconds and they will be delicious! Fresh blueberries is all I use, never frozen!  The other thing that makes these so healthy is that I use honey to sweeten them and nothing more! It’s hard to believe just how ..read more

Over the last several years our family has taken a different approach to list making. I have seen this come up on several minimalist blogs and it’s a cute way to manage gifts for the younger children and teens in your life! I even get my husband to fill one out! Something you WANT Something you NEED Something to WEAR Something to READ I've created a template here for you to print When it comes to receiving gifts from friends and family, I know it can be difficult to speak up about not wanting more toys, clothes, toys, toys, clothes…TOYS! Here’s the thing….you get to decide what comes into y ..read more

Mompreneur Spotlight is back and I got to interview one of my local Calgary favorites, Amanda Wallace. Amanda is the founder of Chasing Sleep. She is a certified infant and child sleep consultant who is passionate about the benefits of sleep!  Her other passion is her other job (Yes! she is a serious hustler!) as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit. So let’s get started! Tell us a little about yourself and life as a mom… I am a born and raised Calgary girl, mom of two little ladies and wife to a marketing guru! I came out of my teenage years interested in teaching…fast ..read more

Mompreneur Spotlight is back! It has been a while since I have done one of these and I was totally feeling like I needed to share about this incredible mom for a while! Her story is about to spark some serious light in you! Not only is she an inspiration but at my house WE are totally LOVING her products! So without further ado, I would love to share my interview with Scarlet Kux-Kardos, the super cool mama and founder of ZAPPED! Tell us a little about yourself…. Growing up in Northern BC, I was raised in the glow of the northern lights. Armed with awe for the outdoors, and attending design s ..read more

I have been asked so many times over Instagram to share about my workout plan and routine. I am finally getting around to writing this post and sharing! First off let me tell you a little bit about my past and how I believe it led to my current plan and why I love to run. As far back as I can remember I have always been active. I was born an athlete. I know that sounds crazy to say, but I was. My parents saw how busy and active I was from a young age and got me into sports right away. When I was just 3 my mom had me registered in soccer and figure skating lessons. I loved to move and watching ..read more

No spend year is here. This post has finally come together! So here it is, our 2019 no spend challenge rules. You have been wanting to hear all about it. It’s been the hardest post I’ve had to write because as soon as I hit publish I am going to be accountable to so many people. No pressure! I am also disclosing a lot of personal and financial information and as much as that is uncomfortable, I think it helps some people to better understand our reasons and maybe get you thinking about your spending habits. How this challenge came to be… For the longest time, I have been wanting to start somet ..read more

First, I want to thank you all so much for your ongoing support, you all loved the daily gift guide ideas so much! I got an overwhelming amount of amazing feedback! so thank you! Go over to my Instagram stories highlights to see how it all went down. However, as promised I have put it all together right here for you! I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and I hope that regardless of all the things and stuff you get, that you really take the time to appreciate the moment, the love and all the special people around you! Day 1 – Age 1 – Musical Instruments to promote that serve and return and o ..read more