This isn't going to be a super long post, I just have a few things that I wanted to share about the events and goings on of the past week.
This past week I've started to feel the baby move. At first I wasn't very sure that it was the baby, but after a few times I'm very sure that is what I have been feeling. It's neat when I don't expect to feel and and I'm talking with someone. I confuse them by stopping mid-sentance to rub my belly and say, "Oh, hello in there!"
:)
Another thing that has happened is that I got in with the midwives here! After calling them for ages, and leaving messages everytime they finally called me back! (It's one of the offices where they don't pick up their general line, you leave a message and they get back to you. I *should* note that when you do get in with them, you get the emergency numbers and pagers so you can get ahold of them right away.)
I had my first appointment yesterday morning. All we did was the medical intake stuff. How much do I weigh? How tall am I? Are the address and health card number correct? That kind of stuff.
Then we got to do something fun!
Using a doppler, I got to hear my babies heartbeat for the very first time! And the baby moved while we were listening. It's heart beat was going, "Whump whump, whump whump, whump whump..." It was pretty cool!
So, that's my news for this week. But how was your week? What events have taken place in your life?
Have a good weekend! <3
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Healthy Eating - Eating Whole Ingredient Meals
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is definitely a challange at times. Especially when life gets in the way. Suddenly we have to balance and plan for weddings, birthdays, holidays, family events. (Oh, the joys of being an adult - please notice, I didn't say grown up *smirks*) And don't forget about the every day things like work, walking the dog, housework, and soccer practice or dance recitals. (Or those lovely days when everyone in your house gets sick and everyone has to take the day off.)
I myself, can be really bad with poor eating habits. In the past many of my coworkers have marvelled at my healthy eating habits, and they are there, trust me. I love finding new and tasty recipes to try so I don't get bored with my menu all the time. What my old work colleagues didn't see often were my snacking habits. This girl is a fan of nachos (with shredded cheese or movie theatre style, doesn't matter), Dill Pickle and Miss Vickie's Salt and Vinegar chips, Ice Cream, a long list of baking goods and powered doughnuts just to name a few. And sour candies! (sour keys, please, don't get me started.) I wouldn't just get one snack item, I had to get it all.
So while my eating habits is something some would envy, there is tons of room for improvement.
Another thing that makes healthy eating difficult is when you have a picky eater in your house or someone with different dietary needs due to allergies or health concerns. (Or someone who places restrictions on their diet.)
In my house right now, I am trying to focus on eating and cooking with more whole food items. Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed . Some examples are: apples, carrots, chicken breast, fresh spices or herbs (only because the taste is much different than the dried), cheese and nuts.
It's true that making meals from whole foods may take longer, but if you manage your time well you can really get it down to a science and cut down the time you take to do things.
Some things that I do to help cut down the time it takes to prep and cook meals are things like, taking the skin off the chicken legs before I bag them into portion sizes and freeze them; I wash and cut up veggies I use often so they're ready for salads or snacks; when I cook I make sure I have all of my ingredients and tools on hand and measure out the amounts I need so I don't fumble around looking for things (or, forget them. That is the sad, sad voice of experience. I can't tell you how many times I had to toss something because I forgot a key ingredient.)
This week, I've done some new things that I don't often get to do in my house. I *love* experimenting with new recipes and cooking. It's something you can't always do with baking. But like I've stated before, if you have a picky eater, you know how it can be. You're stuck eating the same foods over and over and slowly add new meals that are accepted - or, if you have someone whose gone on a diet, making two meals. Back to the original thought: this week, I've been able to try new things, as well as attempt some things I haven't attempted before. *Big grin*
This week I successfully baked potatoes! I tried it a couple of years ago with grim results and I haven't tried again since. I'm proud to say that they were awesome. I've also done some roasted veggies and herbed chicken. In my house, the good old reliable is "Shake 'n Bake" or if we're in the mood to mix things up, we make a fresh sauce which I prefer a lot more to Shake 'n Bake.
Today, I'm working on some beef stock to make a beef stew in the next day or two. I'm not a huge fan of soups or stews, but every now and then I try them out so there is some variety and hopefully it's acceptable. Also on the go today, I'm making some meatballs without the bread crumbs. I've done this before with varied results. Some didn't turn out so well because I was in too much of a rush, my skillet was too full and didn't handle them gently enough and they fell apart. Today I'm going to give myself lots of time so I don't need to rush or over-fill my skillet.
I'm also really happy that I'm using more fresh herbs in my cooking this week, and they can be super cheap. I love fresh herbs because they are more fragrant, they taste different than the dried stuff. And plus, who doesn't love the smell of fresh basil?
What are some new recipes that you are trying at home? What are some of your tips for making cooking easier and faster? Let me know!
I myself, can be really bad with poor eating habits. In the past many of my coworkers have marvelled at my healthy eating habits, and they are there, trust me. I love finding new and tasty recipes to try so I don't get bored with my menu all the time. What my old work colleagues didn't see often were my snacking habits. This girl is a fan of nachos (with shredded cheese or movie theatre style, doesn't matter), Dill Pickle and Miss Vickie's Salt and Vinegar chips, Ice Cream, a long list of baking goods and powered doughnuts just to name a few. And sour candies! (sour keys, please, don't get me started.) I wouldn't just get one snack item, I had to get it all.
So while my eating habits is something some would envy, there is tons of room for improvement.
Another thing that makes healthy eating difficult is when you have a picky eater in your house or someone with different dietary needs due to allergies or health concerns. (Or someone who places restrictions on their diet.)
In my house right now, I am trying to focus on eating and cooking with more whole food items. Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed . Some examples are: apples, carrots, chicken breast, fresh spices or herbs (only because the taste is much different than the dried), cheese and nuts.
It's true that making meals from whole foods may take longer, but if you manage your time well you can really get it down to a science and cut down the time you take to do things.
Some things that I do to help cut down the time it takes to prep and cook meals are things like, taking the skin off the chicken legs before I bag them into portion sizes and freeze them; I wash and cut up veggies I use often so they're ready for salads or snacks; when I cook I make sure I have all of my ingredients and tools on hand and measure out the amounts I need so I don't fumble around looking for things (or, forget them. That is the sad, sad voice of experience. I can't tell you how many times I had to toss something because I forgot a key ingredient.)
This week, I've done some new things that I don't often get to do in my house. I *love* experimenting with new recipes and cooking. It's something you can't always do with baking. But like I've stated before, if you have a picky eater, you know how it can be. You're stuck eating the same foods over and over and slowly add new meals that are accepted - or, if you have someone whose gone on a diet, making two meals. Back to the original thought: this week, I've been able to try new things, as well as attempt some things I haven't attempted before. *Big grin*
This week I successfully baked potatoes! I tried it a couple of years ago with grim results and I haven't tried again since. I'm proud to say that they were awesome. I've also done some roasted veggies and herbed chicken. In my house, the good old reliable is "Shake 'n Bake" or if we're in the mood to mix things up, we make a fresh sauce which I prefer a lot more to Shake 'n Bake.
Today, I'm working on some beef stock to make a beef stew in the next day or two. I'm not a huge fan of soups or stews, but every now and then I try them out so there is some variety and hopefully it's acceptable. Also on the go today, I'm making some meatballs without the bread crumbs. I've done this before with varied results. Some didn't turn out so well because I was in too much of a rush, my skillet was too full and didn't handle them gently enough and they fell apart. Today I'm going to give myself lots of time so I don't need to rush or over-fill my skillet.
I'm also really happy that I'm using more fresh herbs in my cooking this week, and they can be super cheap. I love fresh herbs because they are more fragrant, they taste different than the dried stuff. And plus, who doesn't love the smell of fresh basil?
What are some new recipes that you are trying at home? What are some of your tips for making cooking easier and faster? Let me know!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
How Much Is Too Much?
Since I've been pregnant, I've been stuck underneath a veil of tiredness - and definitely at time, exhaustion. While I do try to react from my bodies cues as soon as possible so I don't overdo it, and I've drastically cut down on the chores and activities in a day, I still wake up feeling groggy and my eyes ache. I drag my feet while getting ready to take Chatum on his morning walk. I lazily think about the chores that need to be done that day and try and set a schedule for the week in my head.
Pre-pregnancy, I could clean the WHOLE house in less than an average work day. That's *with* taking breaks for eating, Facebook, walking the dog and random sit downs.
NOW it's a very different story. I normally do two maybe three things a day (I might even do more, if you count things you don't even realize you do that have to get done). And I definitely find that I'm prioritizing my cleaning schedule more. "Should I vacuum or mop today, or should I do the laundry?" (Today, btw, is laundry day, since I'm out of clean underwear that *isn't* made of floss that don't seem to be nearly as barable anymore. Just sayin'.)
Last week was pretty bad for me, I felt so awful all week between 2nd trimester headaches, the constant tired mama-to-be syndrome, my bad hip (which has steadily been hurting and aching more since this little bundle has been growing) and taking care of the house that I haven't been enjoying my pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think it would be a cake walk 100% of the time and I'd expected to feel down at least every now and then and I'm not grumpy all the time. There are plenty of wonderful moments in my pregnancy that I think of fondly. (I'm really looking forward to my next ultrasound and seeing how the baby has grown since I saw it last time and getting new pictures. AND! If baby cooperates, hopefully I'll find out if this baby is a boy or girl so the spare room can be changed into the baby room :D )
For the time being, I've decided to stick with doing ONE chore a day. Whether that be cleaning the floors, laundry (which I won't have to do as soon as my belly gets a little bigger so I don't have to go up and down the basement stairs), doing the grocery shopping or cleaning the bathroom (because I'm a snob and I *can't* have a bath in a tub where I can feel skin cells from other showers or baths)
One thing is for sure, I am sure glad I'm not nearly as OCD as I was before. She would really be going nuts!
What sort of cleaning system do you have at home and how do you prioritize what has to be done? Do you have anyone who helps you, or is the bulk of the household to-do list on your plate?
Pre-pregnancy, I could clean the WHOLE house in less than an average work day. That's *with* taking breaks for eating, Facebook, walking the dog and random sit downs.
NOW it's a very different story. I normally do two maybe three things a day (I might even do more, if you count things you don't even realize you do that have to get done). And I definitely find that I'm prioritizing my cleaning schedule more. "Should I vacuum or mop today, or should I do the laundry?" (Today, btw, is laundry day, since I'm out of clean underwear that *isn't* made of floss that don't seem to be nearly as barable anymore. Just sayin'.)
Last week was pretty bad for me, I felt so awful all week between 2nd trimester headaches, the constant tired mama-to-be syndrome, my bad hip (which has steadily been hurting and aching more since this little bundle has been growing) and taking care of the house that I haven't been enjoying my pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think it would be a cake walk 100% of the time and I'd expected to feel down at least every now and then and I'm not grumpy all the time. There are plenty of wonderful moments in my pregnancy that I think of fondly. (I'm really looking forward to my next ultrasound and seeing how the baby has grown since I saw it last time and getting new pictures. AND! If baby cooperates, hopefully I'll find out if this baby is a boy or girl so the spare room can be changed into the baby room :D )
For the time being, I've decided to stick with doing ONE chore a day. Whether that be cleaning the floors, laundry (which I won't have to do as soon as my belly gets a little bigger so I don't have to go up and down the basement stairs), doing the grocery shopping or cleaning the bathroom (because I'm a snob and I *can't* have a bath in a tub where I can feel skin cells from other showers or baths)
One thing is for sure, I am sure glad I'm not nearly as OCD as I was before. She would really be going nuts!
What sort of cleaning system do you have at home and how do you prioritize what has to be done? Do you have anyone who helps you, or is the bulk of the household to-do list on your plate?
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