My Sweet Mess

living ordinary life in an extraordinary way

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  • Blog Home
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Bowls & Salads, Dips, Dressings & Sauces, Plant Powered, Side Dishes

Acorn squash and apple salad with quinoa

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Plant Powered, Soups & Stews

Sweet potato, lemongrass and coconut soup

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Breakfast, Food & Drinks, Kid Approved, Plant Powered, Snacks, Sweet Treats

Cherry coconut oat bars

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About My Sweet Mess

Hi, and welcome to My Sweet Mess where I share a look into our messy family life and all the things I’m passionate about. I am a full-time working mom, fiancé, home cook, holistic nutrition student, and creativepreneur. This is my little spot to share with you all the things in life that are meaningful to me which include, healthyish recipes, my family, mom life, home decor, travel and much much more.  Thank-you for joining me and my sweet family on our  little journey.

mysweetmess

Type A workaholic to SAHM
Mom life◈healthyish food◈my style
@nourish_and_sprout @citrusandspicecreative
Living ordinary life in an extraordinary way

Kristen ◈ MYSWEETMESS
A mom with short hair found in the wild 😂😂😂. 

Haha seriously though! I love my short hair, but I definitely can’t just get up and go unless I want to look a little like Albert Einstein or someone who has recently stuck their finger in a light socket 😯. 
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What about you,  can you just roll out of bed with your hairstyle? Or tie it up and be done with it?
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#shorthairproblems #realmoms #honestmoments #ourcandidmoments #daysofourlives #momoftwokids #yycmamas #covidhairdontcare #mysweetmess #thisisreallife #sahmlife #toddlermomlife #badhairdays #thisis40something #mymomstyle #parentinghumor #mommingsohard #momblogging 
#modernmama #mamahoodinsquares #momdays #momdaymorning
This is what it’s all about for me. It’s not l This is what it’s all about for me. It’s not like I didn’t know that, I did - I just didn’t envision it this way. I didn’t think I would be at home for now 349 days without the ability to see my friends and have connection (besides the odd outdoor visit), for Luna to have play dates, for my family to even meet our son. I didn’t think Luna would have to stop all the activities like gymnastics, swimming and sport ball she loved so much that burned some of that insane toddler energy.  I didn’t think I would be without visits, and support post partum, that it would be over a year since @clintleastwood and I would have a date (still haven’t). I didn’t think I would have zero time to myself and have to choose between allowing Luna to watch TV or play a game on the iPad so I could shower, work, breathe and feeling guilty about that, or feeling like shit because I never took care of myself and never accomplished anything. So I chose spending as much time as I could and doing as much as I could with the kids, while also doing as much work as I could, studying, cleaning the house, working on my blog and I sacrificed myself in pretty much every way. I knew being a mom of two would not be easy, it would be challenging, never did I think being a SAHM mom was easy. But I also didn’t realize how this pandemic, lockdown, restrictions and everything else would really change our lives. That something as mundane as taking the kids with me to the grocery store was an exercise in risk assessment and what is and isn’t worth it.  That the isolation and loneliness that comes with being a new mom would be tenfold this time around. I let it all get to the point where it broke me, but caught it thankfully before it broke anything else. Now I’m working on reassessing and carving out my values so making decisions about who and what I spend my time on are easy, not guilt ridden and gut wrenching.
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Also does anyone else find it annoying how blurry iPhone photos are with the slightest bit of movement, because these little ones never stay still.
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#realmoms #covidlife #pandemicparenting #mysweetmess #motherdaughterlove #workingmomma #mompreneurlife #yycmom #yycmama #mycandidlife
It has been years since I read a book cover to cov It has been years since I read a book cover to cover. I have books upon books that have piled up in my house that I stare at day after day that I’ve never read, (and yeah I like actual books, none of this kindle crap). I want to but I always felt too guilty using my time to read something for pleasure when I should be reading a text and studying or working on my business at the time. Last week the guilt I put on myself about everything finally made a mark so big I couldn’t stand it anymore. I was being crushed underneath the weight of it, and for what? I decided to just take a step back from everything and focus on my family, myself and school. I picked up my school books and got through a subject not only that I don’t really enjoy (but is a necessary part of my course), but I’m also not great at and finished with an A on my exam. I spent time in the mountains with my family, I have colored and done more puzzles with my 3 year old in the last week than probably this last year, I spent countless hours just watching Wilder and playing with him, I cooked many meals without taking photos and I crushed this book in 3 days and fuck did it feel good!!! I had no idea how relevant much of this book would be to where I’m at and what I’m feeling but woah, lots to take in. And like any book, there is some stuff I relate to (in this case A LOT) and some stuff I don’t, but there’s always at least one nugget of wisdom. This felt so relevant to me in this moment in the season I’m in that I already started reading it again so I can really soak it all up.
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Have you read this book? Do you have any other suggestions?
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#mysweetmess #bookclubofinstagram #personalgoals #momguilt #learningtoputmyselffirst  #selfcarematters  #fillingmycup #yycmama #momoflittles #metimegoals #momguiltnomore #thesubtleartofnotgivingafuck #momlifeunfiltered #realmoms #realmoments #mommingsohard  #mompreneurlife #unapologeticallyme #thisisme #mycandidlife #honestmom #empoweryourself #thisis40something #over40blogger #lifeinyour40s #cantdoitall #onestepatatime
Happy 3rd birthday to our sassy little spitfire! Happy 3rd birthday to our  sassy little spitfire!  Having you in our life this last three years has been an incredible trip. There are so many things I want to say, and not nearly enough space. You have brought so much love to this family, you’re a daddy’s girl through and through, but you and I have a very tight bond 💕 and the way your brother looks at you says everything about you as a big sister. You are feisty as f$&k (don’t know where you get that from 😂😬), independent, and a fighter. You won’t back down when you believe in something, even if it is just that I should have colored a scribble not a flower. You are smart as a whip, creative, curious and super witty - you definitely get that from your dad. You are goofy, super funny, so much so sometimes I can’t stop laughing. You are proud and confident, (YES!!!) and I love the look in your eyes when you figure something out on your own. You are kind, nurturing and loving. You are an emotional creature for sure, you feel all the feelings big and small for yourself and others and however challenging it can be sometimes, I love that about you. You tell the silliest stories and sing the sweetest songs. You’re love of books and reading has made me read again and your love of food gives me all the feels and brings a new side to cooking and eating. Your love of music and dancing can brighten anyone’s day as does your love of 🌈🦄✨🦙. May you continue to smile as big as you do, be unapologetically you and correct me when I’m wrong for all the days to come.
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You are everything to us, we are so proud of you and we love you unconditionally.
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#thisisthree #sassytoddler #rainbowsandunicorns #mysweetmess #realmoms #toddlermoms #bigsisterlittlebrother #bigsisters #covidbirthday #mysweetbabygirl #raisingthefuture #yycmamas #momdaymorning #3rdbirthday #toddlergirls #livingthattoddlerlife #thefutureisfemale #myminimes #myfirstbornbaby #memoriesmade #toddlergirlmom #mommybloggers #letthembelittle #stopgrowingsofast #mymotherhood #honestmom
WARNING ⚠️- it’s a long one today. So long i WARNING ⚠️- it’s a long one today. So long it’s continued in the comments. I wanted to post a recipe today but Wilder won’t nap and I haven’t eaten and I had to stop myself from even trying to get it done and just be real with myself for a minute. I am a mostly type A workaholic creative entrepreneur; but I am also a mom, partner, student, daughter, sister, friend and more. I wear A LOT of different hats, too many.  Today is my aha, my enough is enough moment.  I have always taken on way too much, and when I was single with few other responsibilities it was ok. It’s NOT ok anymore. I’m trying to juggle so many things that everything I do takes time away from something or more importantly someone else and the guilt I feel constantly is killing me. And, I have no one to blame but myself; I made these choices. I love this community and my blog, it’s my life and I love sharing it, but not at the expense of living it. Right now I’m trying to finish school, start and build my nutrition business, keep My Sweet Mess going, (although I’m not often sure why), I’m trying to practice and hone my photography, we’re trying to renovate our home little by little, and I’m also a full time stay at home mom to an almost 3 year old and a 7 month old; and these are just the big things. Don’t forget there’s cooking three meals a day and a bazillion snacks, cleaning the house and all the thousand other little things that come up everyday. The problem is - I am doing all of this stuff at the expense of quality time with my kids, my relationship with Clint and taking care of myself and growing in any meaningful way because i’m worried I’m too old, and I started too late and I’ll never accomplish anything. I’m not even sure why I’m posting this, maybe just to get it out, maybe because once it’s out I’ll actually make a change, maybe because someone else might be feeling this too, I don’t know. But what I do know is I can’t continue the way I’ve been going because this face, this has been my face for far more days than not lately and because in the end, I’m not accomplishing anything anyways.
Homemade granola on repeat, because its so easy an Homemade granola on repeat, because its so easy and so much better than store bought. Don’t get me wrong, I do buy granola every once in awhile, usually when I’m at Costco and there’s a good organic, low sugar brand for a decent price. It’s always nice to have on hand just in case. But for the most part, we have homemade granola, you can alter the flavour profile so easily, control the amount of sugar you put in and make sure there is enough of the important stuff like protein, iron, fiber and more.  Plus it’s delicious, quick and filling. This is my cinnamon raisin granola, it’s a go to because we all love the flavours abs we always have everything on hand. Recipe will be up in the blog later this week.
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Do you have a favourite granola, store bought or homemade? How do you eat yours? Luna loves hers with milk and sometimes yogurt, I love it with yogurt and fruit and Clint will eat it anyway it comes!
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#homemadegranola #granolabowl #breakfastonthego #breakfastoftheday #mysweetmess #granolarecipe #easyrecipe #quickrecipes #easybreakfastideas #simplefoods #healthysnackideas #yycmamas #onourtable #howweeat #feedingfamilies #whatmytoddlereats #toddlerbreakfast #feedinglittles #clgetcooking #eatwellfeelwell #healthystarttotheday
Happy Valentines my love 🤍. Although our kids a Happy Valentines my love 🤍. Although our kids are also my Valentines (it’s about love not about relationships), today’s post is all about you. This last year has NOT been easy, and I have NOT been easy, but you love me anyways...sorry not sorry 🤷‍♀️. Although there have been moments that I didn’t like you much (just being honest), I did and still do love you with all my heart and more.  This pandemic has been a bitch - let’s just say it! It brought me getting laid off, being pregnant and us having a baby, changing Luna’s life big time in a very short period with little to no warning, being at home alone with the kids a lot, having zero time together to work on us and zero time for myself, no time with friends and family and the list goes on...but, but but but - we are still here and still together. Although I won’t miss this shitty pandemic when it’s gone, I do value the lessons I’ve learned in this time. Thank you for being kind, for being here, for making me laugh and for laughing at me. Thank you for understanding when you walk in the door and I hand you the kids so I can go hide/cry in the shower. Thank you for not judging me when I’m a disastrous mess, ie) haven’t brushed my hair, got dressed or showered in a few days. Thank you for being the over the top amazing Dad that you are and for busting your ass in this new slightly scarier world for all of us. I may not say it a lot, definitely not enough, especially lately. But despite that, I appreciate you, value you, see you and love you. 
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Here’s to this pandemic F’ing off soon so we can go to Cold Garden and have a beer without our lovely little turds 💩, I mean kids 😂♥️.
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#mysweetmess #bemyvalentines #ourcandidmoments #ourlovestory #myforeverlove #realmoms #realmoments #dailyliving #ourextraordinarylife #lovemonth #yycmama #familyvibes #familyvalues #treasuringlittlemoments #momentsofours #realhonestlife #createwithcolor #thestoryofus #raisinglittles #quarantineliving
Rolo brownies baby!!! They’re up on the blog and Rolo brownies baby!!!
They’re up on the blog and you’re going to want to make them. They are sooooooo good. They are also not healthy, just being honest.  I helathify a lot of stuff as you know, but sometimes I just want to make something the way it supposed to be, filled with sugar 😆. They are rich, fudgey, oh so sweet and totally worth indulging yourself. It is Valentines soon after all. There’s rolos inside and rolos on top of the creamy salted caramel frosting, yum 🤤. 
Click the link in my profile or DM me and I’ll send you the recipe.
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Would you eat these?
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#fudgebrownies #rolobrownies #bakingbrownies #nationalcreamcheesebrownieday #thebakefeed #sweettoothforever #chocolatelove #chocolateaddiction #mysweetmess #bakedays #bakersgonnabakebakebake #feedfeedbaking #yycmamas #quarantinebaking #valentinestreats #valentinesbaking
Mmmuffins!!! Do you guys remember this place or a Mmmuffins!!! 
Do you guys remember this place or am I dating myself?
Anyways, there’s a newish muffin recipe on the blog. Cranberry orange muffins and I topped them with a little orange cinnamon glaze.  I’m not gonna lie the glaze on it’s own tastes a little like fireball 😬. It’s delicious on the muffins but on it’s own kind of reminds me of one too many hangovers 😆 haha!
Link for the recipe is in my profile, otherwise shoot me a DM and I’ll send it to you. 
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Also what’s everyone doing to get through this deep freeze?
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#muffinrecipe #cranberryorange #healthyish #easybaking #winterflavors #citrusseason #feedfeedbaking @thefeedfeed.baking #clgetcooking #makesmewhole #howieat #makeitdelicious #cranberrymuffins  #thenewhealthy #bakedays #indooractivities #mysweetmess #bakersgonnabake #homebakers #lovetobake #bakeyouhappy #muffintime #easyrecipes #yycfoodies #yycmama #kidfriendlyfood #kidapprovedfood #momapproved #nutritionistmom #glutenfreeoptions
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