🍁Cozy homemaking, comfort foods and a Bathroom REMODEL!

[@jeanettekvinlaug2772]

Do the post box next town over. Please be safe. ❤ It only takes one random crazy person. It doesn't even have to be a regular viewer. I am so impressed with Ozzie's self-control. He did not steal meat. 😊

[@leahfischer5264]

Your husband is talented, patient and deserves lots of thanks!!

[@ThisMainerMom]

That is nice of you to say!! 😃

[@SonyaChavez]

Great video. Love how your family works together. Good luck on Rachel’s business. Your cinnamon rolls looked delicious. Good job Robin. Yvonne, let’s see more of you cleaning video’s. Love watching you all!

[@tracylanglois6327]

A new grandbaby! What a blessing ❤ Ivon will make a wonderful mama ❤️ so happy for Rachel too on her new business venture. Bathroom looks great!! We have been remodeling ours as well for over a year. It’s a slow process when life around you continues and you just get small bits of time.

[@moniquefuselier7711]

Glad you're considering a p.o. box. Hopefully, Evon begins to have more well than yucky days. The cinnamon rolls looked delicious. Best wishes to Rachel on her new venture. Robin had such a big job--good for him for persevering!

[@LisaMay-j3i]

Congratulations Yvonne so happy for you! I wanted to reach out as a mommy of 3 that lives local to you I have a gently used pack and play the smaller ones for newborn to about a year old that I'm looking to gift someone I know how expensive babies are and every little bit helps so if it's something you're interested in please reach out and lmk if love for you to have it if you can use it. Congratulations mommy and Grammy so happy for yall

[@cindypavao822]

Don’t worry about showing cats on the counter,it’s no big deal. I don’t have any cats and it wouldn’t bother me if I was there. I love that you show real life moments, but also it really comes across that you all support each other.

[@carrie3206]

Hi Karen, I loved the conversation you and Ivon were having. 😊 I also really enjoy watching Robin working on the bathroom DIY. Do you think the cinnamon rolls would have risen more if the yeast was put in warm water? From the video, it looked like you put the dry yeast into the flour. The one time I attempted to make orange rolls, (decades ago, lol, and then never again!), they didn’t rise and my aunt said I might have used old yeast or the water for the yeast may have been too warm. It was so disappointing, after having spent so much time making them from scratch. Then she told me they have frozen sweet dough bread at the grocery store and I could use that next time! 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ Oh boy! 😊

[@bethstratton3391]

The crockpot stew looked really healthy. I also liked the cinnamon bun recipe which turned out really great. With the icing you could flavour it with a little bit of lemon, vanilla or coffee essence to taper the sweetness of the powdered sugar. Karen has Ivon read the new big study released last week which was co-produced by several major universities suggesting that sugar levels in pregnant women are currently too high (and increasing). They warned that sugar levels should be kept low. This is because sugar for babies and children up to the age of two (including pre birth) can considerably increased diabetes, cortisol and cholesterol problems in later life. It is advised pregnant women and children under five should have no more than four to five teaspoon of sugar per day max including that added to meals/drinks. So maybe Ivon might want to consider watching the pastries, shop bought coffee’s with syrup or sweetened cream and fizzy drinks. Also, if Ivon is having morning sickness then maybe too many mixes of high fibre foods one on top of the other isn’t perhaps the wisest thing. Btw, if you want the cats to stay off the counters you should use a counter spray that has eucalyptus or high citrus oil scents in it, as cats don’t like these smells. Avoid florals as cats are drawn to many of them. Personally, I would now worry about your cats being on the kitchen counter given that Ivon is pregnant. Did you know cat’s hair and cat’s feet can spread bacteria picked up from their cat’s litter trays, concrete or carpet dust. This can include: Listeria Salmonella Campylobacter Streptococcus Clostridia Toxoplasmosis Bordetella Chlamydophila. Some of these are can adversely affect pregnant women. Given that you don’t change your cat litter everyday and your cats stay in the basement at night where they may pick up dust or insect mite eggs in their fur; or indeed catch and play with mice that escape their clutches which you may not be aware of, I would worry about this getting into your countertops or near your raw meat, vegetables or uncooked food. Anyway, Robin did a great job with the bathroom flooring. It isn’t easy cutting plywood to fit around piping and electrical cables.

[@DistanceTraveled]

Having a baby shower registry is a good idea. I have heard that if you make a baby registry through Target and one through Amazon, you end up with a care package with samples and baby things as well as coupons. These things change, and I haven't had a baby myself, but it is worthwhile since there is a bit of experimentation to find what works for both mama and baby. I'm really happy for Ivon. Having a baby run around is going to change your house dynamic again, for sure! ❤

[@amandadunkle1118]

Great to see you ivon so glad your feeling better. I love your videos they always cheer me up. Thank you for all your videos.

[@ingmariohman8242]

Next Friday I've invited friends for an autumn dinner. I'll do catering to save my energy for being with my friends. I write this bc you mentioned your Armenian grandmother. I'll have an Armenian stew for my friends. An Armenian man has a café in the neighbourhood. He's had excellent reviews on our local fb-side.

[@catherinetweats8050]

Good to see you able to eat, Ivon. Xxxxx

[@allioakley3372]

Ivon 🥰 Bless you and baby 💕

[@gwenpowers6856]

Karen, I love how you keep everything real. Please stay true to you always. Love this channel.

[@gwenpowers6856]

Love the music, also.❤

[@angelarothbauer8096]

Yay on the baby shower ❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@pamelafreeman4548]

Robin is bringing your spa bathroom to ife!!❤😊 Those cinnamon rolls look delicious!!

[@debbiegoodwin2421]

I'm glad you're😊 eating, Yvonne

[@Vivienne130]

Again a wonderful video ❣️❣️❣️ I love the idea of a „follower-Baby-shower“ , but, for your own & your family‘s safety, get the post box in a nearby town but not in your hometown 🙏

[@ThisMainerMom]

Thank you, sweet friend! ❤️

[@helenelindholm656]

Glad Ivon feeling better. The rolls looks yummi. Great job in the bathroom Robin. Take care❤

[@em......]

There's so many things to comment on , I know I'll forget something.... So I loved the whole video so much. I loved the start with Ivon and you chatting. And the baby(leo)! I love how he gets up on the island (and woozi!) I was trying to think if we did anything leading up to Christmas when I was young, but I have no memories of any lead up to it (I have no memories of Christmas day either, except maybe a few random moments of one or two Christmases). With my niece and nephew we had this cute chalkboard that we used to count down the days. The bathroom is looking fab. Robin is such a gem.

[@elizabethlangheim7214]

I didn’t see Woosie do anything my cats wouldn’t. 😂

[@shelbyshaw9319]

So glad Ivon is feeling better, she’s so adorable and such a fun person, I always love when she’s on your videos. Robin is so talented and your cats are the cutest. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

[@MsArtistwannabe]

lol, Leo is so much like my Larry. It’s all about being naughty and food.

[@jillh.9617]

It’s probably not the cat’s saliva that makes people leary, it might be that the cat steps in its toilet, then on the counter?

[@angelarothbauer8096]

Ivon so good to see you- take care of yourself and baby ❤

[@KlingonPrincess]

The bathroom is really coming along well. I tell ya, if i has yeast in the house this minute I'd be making cinnamon rolls! I'm so glad Yvonne is keeping some food down. Gotta feed that baby 🤗

[@tammycrookshanks4112]

Always get excited when I see your videos come up!♥️😊 Praying for you Ivonne to soon get over the sick times so you can enjoy your pregnancy. Looking forward to seeing your little bundle of joy! Take care of yourself and be sure to keep Karen mixing up those yummy cinnamon rolls lol!

[@WatchingtilJesusComes]

Yes a baby shower❤❤❤…I pray the Lord help you Ivonne through these pregnancy symptoms.

[@ThisMainerMom]

Thank you!! 🙌❤️

[@viviancunssuarez]

Ivon ❤

[@Minimadaa]

lol can relate, I love Freschetta!

[@ingmariohman8242]

I decorate for Christmas, the Saturday before Advent 1.

[@melissakoon2097]

Im putting my village together this weekend in our front window then ill go from there and do the little stuff i won't put the tree up until Thanksgiving night ❤

[@ingmariohman8242]

If you put a dampened teatowel under your glass board, it will stay in place.

[@sburwell75]

Cats are gonna cat!

[@CynthiaMiller-cc3qj]

I had a cat that would not stay off the kitchen counters. Cat saliva was not the problem. Cat hair was the problem. I don’t like cat hair in my food. Plus the bottoms of their paws are full of bacteria.

[@CarolRodriguez-c9e]

It's ok to choose to let your cats be. I did look at several websites and they did say cats carry bacteria on their paws. It recommended washing counter after with hot sudsy water.

[@ThisMainerMom]

😘

[@m.c.9634]

Hi Karen! Yes, the saliva of most mammals - including cats, dogs and human beings - has anti-bacterial properties. This is why animals (and humans, too) instinctively lick their wounds. Butts and feet on the other hand: not so much. The latter is likely the reason some people get a bit put-off by animals (or naked people for that matter) sitting/walking on kitchen counters 😆 Also, a question: are you not concerned with moisture getting underneath the interlocking bathroom tiles at the wall edges where they "expand & contract"? I imagine it's ok for day-to-day, but what if the sink overflows and you get a lot of standing water on the floor? Just curious... I'm sure your husband would know.

[@MsArtistwannabe]

I let my machine do the kneading. As much as I like to knead it kills my wrist these days. Your dough looks perfect.

[@ThisMainerMom]

Thanks for the encouragement!! I am glad you don’t have to hurt your wrists to knead!! ❤️😍

[@susanwalgren3939]

To make the frosting less sugary: add Philly cream cheese- a Tbls @ a time, 1- Tbls of softened butter, and tsp of vanilla. They taste SO much better!

[@ThisMainerMom]

😋

[@flipsforfun6116]

❤

[@carolynoquinn4573]

"This Old House"

[@elizabethlangheim7214]

So excited if you set something up so we could be involved with a baby shower or nest egg situation or something to show our support for Ivon (Yvonne) and the new baby. How does she spell her name? I see it multiple ways in the comments.

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

Is she opening an Etsy account?

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

My husband doesn’t like the cats on the counter and when he sees them he yells at them or one spank but I just tell them to get down. I’ve tried telling him that yelling at them isn’t going to do any good they still going to do it

[@ThisMainerMom]

I know some people give them a light squirt of water!

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

You should be able to find the ginger lollipops online

[@ThisMainerMom]

Oh how I wish someone that simple would work!! 🫤

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

@ it worked for my daughter

[@debbiegoodwin2421]

When my husband makes cinnamon rolls, he puts peacons, and I don't put frosting.

[@susanwalgren3939]

What is the purpose of putting a piece of dough in your mouth?

[@CynthiaFulkerson]

I think the show was This Old House with Norm Abrams.

[@ThisMainerMom]

Yes! Thats it!! 🤣

[@gwenpowers6856]

Or Bob Vila!

[@CynthiaFulkerson]

Bob Villa was on This Old House and Bob Villa's Home Again. Norm Abrams was on This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop. I googled to make sure. My husband watched them all!

[@MsArtistwannabe]

Please don’t eat any fast food while you’re pregnant. Considering the listeria and E. coli outbreaks in the news. I had to laugh at the menu. Oatmeal and pizza.

[@ThisMainerMom]

I know! 😂