My Baby Boy Brunch

My sister and sister-in-law wanted to do something for me for our new baby.  I felt a little weird having a shower or even a "sprinkle" for a second baby but I loved the idea of getting just best friends together.

I didn't take any pictures but my sister wrote a post on her blog with details.  It was such a nice morning.  Just really close girlfriends and family were there....we had delicious food and just got to talk and hang out with people I never get to see living so far away.  I was gifted with SO MANY cute boy outfits (wasn't sure "cute boy outfits" were even a thing at this point) and just really had a great, relaxing time.

Thank you, Susu and Manda!!!

Click to see my sweet Baby Boy Brunch:-)

So What Wednesday {date night and mommy's scare tactics}

So what if...

-  I completely abandoned any sort of self-control or "diet" mentality for the last weeks of being pregnant.  I'll only have this excuse for a little while longer now and I NEED Coldstone ice cream!

-  Last night my mom volunteered to put Rowan to bed so we could go out to dinner.  We went to Chipotle.  Hot and sexy date, eh?

-  If our son is born at 37w0d like Rowan was then we have 2.5 weeks to get ready for him.  And when I say "get ready" I mean "DO EVERYTHING."  Poor second child...

-  I keep forgetting how horrible one feels directly after having a baby.  In my mind I see myself leaving the hospital and heading to Crossfit to sign up...not so, you delusional crazy person, not so.

-  Husband has been warning me I'm turning Rowan into a freak because I use "scare tactics."  For instance if she wants to go destroy something in my mom's house and I need to finish what I'm doing I'll say, "Lets not go upstairs, Mimi's scary kitty will eat your face."  Whatever works...right?  RIGHT?!?!

 Linking up to Shannon @ Life After I Dew:-)

Finish the Sentence

Thanks to one of my fave bloggers, Mama Laughlin, I recently discovered another new favorite - Where We Can Live Like Jack and Sally.  I'm a lover of all things 'before and after' ESPECIALLY weight loss stories and Holly has a great one!  This week I'm linking up to her hilarious Finish the Sentence:-)

 

 

1. If calories didn't count, I would eat...pizza morning, noon, and night.  I'd have a pizza buffet in the living room so I'd never have to pause Housewives to go get another piece.

2. On my Prom night....I ate wedding reception food and watched teachers dance and sing to try to entertain us.  No dancing, no partying, nada. We went to private school and didn't have "prom" we had "Extravaganza."  Total bust.

3. When I go to the store, I always buy...something I know that I shouldn't but I tell myself "Rowan will love them" cause if it's for your kids it's ok, right?  RIGHT?!  Lately it's been a box of Cheezits that were gone in less than 24 hours.

4. Family functions typically...are pretty low key.  Watch the kids play, hear them get increasingly louder and louder, desperately seach my mother's house for alcohol.

5. I think my blog readers...are fabulous for sticking around:-)

6. I'd much rather be...swimming in the ocean with an ice cold beer waiting for me on my beach chair.

7. I have an obsession with....my weight.

8. My work friends....I only have 1.  She's 2.5 and is scared of the potty.

9. When I created my Facebook account....it was back in the days when you had to have .edu email address!  I thought MySpace was awesome and was daily tortured by choosing the most ironic/least known/coolest profile song.

10. My least favorite word is...meat.  Gross.  Don't get me wrong I love to eat animals (yum yum yum) but I hate the word "meat."  Yuck.

11. I really don't remember....60% of college.

12. Justin Bieber....peaked too soon.  Poor lil fellow...he'll be rooming with Lindsay Lohan in a jail cell in no time.

 

Bloglovin {Obligatory}

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tell me if that works!  I don't really know what Bloglovin is but I think that link means that I have my own little icon now.  Damn you, GoogleReader!  Why do you have to go away!??!

Menu Monday {week 2}

Better late than never, right?  RIGHT?!?

Monday:  Slow cooker BBQ Pork and Broccoli Slaw

(This recipe is fabulous.  It's my go-to for making dinner for other families.  Husband eats his BBQ on Hawaiian rolls.  Sofreakingood.)

BBQ:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/BBQ-Pork-for-Sandwiches/Detail.aspx
Slaw: 1 bag of broccoli slaw, add 2 packets Splenda, 1/3 cup mayo, 1/4 red wine vinegar, 2 tbsp dried minced onion, 1 tbsp red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste!

Tuesday:  Grilled Chicken and sauteed veggies
(Chicken marinated in italian dressing and crispy roasted okra.)

Wednesday:  Thai Food

(Wednesday is going to be ballstastic for both of us so I decided some Drunken Noodles might help:-))

Thursday:  Barbacoa Beef, Pico de Gallo, Avocado and lettuce bowls

(Spicy scrumptalescentness.  I ALWAYS use Tapatio, canned diced chiles, and sometimes use a beer instead of water for the cooking liquid.  I also quit browning the beef before putting it in the slow cooker because I never tasted a difference!)

Beef: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Charleys-Slow-Cooker-Mexican-Style-Meat/Detail.aspx

Friday:  PIZZA NIGHT!  Woot!

Saturday: Paleo Fish and Chips with Red Pepper Remoulade

(Let's see how this turns out with the frozen fish fromt the Commissary.  At least I know the "chips" will be amazing!)

"Fried fish:" http://couponconnections.com/how-to-make-paleo-fish-chips-gluten-and-dairy-free/
Fries: http://couponconnections.com/recipe-how-to-make-sweet-potato-fries-with-chipotle-ketchup-dipping-sauce-2/
Spicy sauce:  http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/04/baked-lump-crab-cakes-with-red-pepper.html

Sunday:  Pesto Stuffed Pork Chops and Sauteed Veggies
(I got this idea from a recipe on AllRecipes but I'm using an Everyday Paleo pesto and winging it for the rest!)

Parsley pesto:  http://everydaypaleo.com/parsley-pesto/



**********************
NOTES

-  I almost always stick to the plan.  Occasionally, I get hormonal/tired/lazy and have my husband bring home Thai food or Greek salads but usually my plan is pretty spot on.

-  Friday is always pizza night/going out to eat.  Without fail.

-  I do not use circulars/sales/coupons when meal planning.  Coupons are super hard to come by in the armpit of the country where I live but because I shop at the Commissary I know I'm getting a really good deal.

-  Because we are following the Paleo style of eating these menus are very protein heavy and cheese light.  Husband still eats sour cream/cheese/bread as a side on occasion but I avoid them 98% of the time.

-  The warm weather/time of year has us grilling out often!

-  If Husband works a night or goes to a work event I DO NOT COOK.  I don't enjoy cooking for just myself but heck, take-out for one is always fun!!

The Mental Checkout Time {aka "When will you be home from work?!"}

I've mentioned before that my day goes something like this:

• 6:00am - Wake up

• (yadda yadda)

• 5:00pm - WHEN IS HUSBAND COMING HOME!?!

There's this phenomenon that I've named "The Mental Checkout Time" which happens to be the exact moment my husband walks in the door from work.  It's not that I stop providing care for my child or stop cooking or cleaning...no it's just the magic hour of the day when I can finally say:

"ask your father" or "maybe Daddy will help you" or 

"I think you might stink can you ask Daddy for a new diaper?"  

Truly magic.

You see I have the patience of a saint first thing in the morning.

"No cookies for breakfast, baby.  You want to take off your clothes and scream and kick?  That's OK, I'll wait til you're done and then we'll eat cereal."  

In the morning things just bounce off me, I have a magical patience that toddler tantrums and troubles just can't break through.  Until about 4pm.  At 4pm my patience starts waning and by "waning" I mean my Force Field of Magical Patience has withered away to a tiny wisp of self-control that keeps me from screaming and running off into the woods.

I need my Checkout Time.

What I had to explain to Husband was just how hardwired this time is.  Right now my expected Mental Checkout Time is 5:30pm.  So the early evening goes something like this:

• 5:00pm - I make a mental note of the clock as I scrape Playdoh off the kitchen rug, "it's almost time."

• 5:15pm - as Rowan is climbing my leg throwing Poptarts onto the stove things get a little more desperate "please, God, please let Husband be on his way."  

• 5:30pm - I begin to formulate a text to see when he might pretty please please please PLEASE GOD be on his way home without appearing frantic

But what I also explained is that The Mental Checkout Time can easily be adjusted so that a breakdown is avoided.  If I know ahead of time he won't be home until 7 then my brain won't start obsessing over the clock until 6:45.  But if I didn't know, if he's just late getting home, **cue cork pop of wine bottle** Mama needs a drink!

Menu Monday {week 1}

I don't talk about it very often but I LOVE cooking.  I love trying to new recipes and I especially love it when Husband tells me something is really really good or suggests it go in "the rotation" of dinners.

One of my favorite parts of the week is menu planning and making my shopping list.  I search my Pinterest boards, blogs, and websites for new recipes but I usually include at least one "favorite" too!

I saw Laura post a Menu Monday last night and I thought, "what a great idea!"  I loved her format so I let her know I was ripping her off:-)  Cheers to Menu Monday and thanks iGriza for sharing!

Monday:  Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Salads

(I make my own taco seasoning and serve chicken over lettuce with avocado, pico, and hot sauce.) 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/salsa-chicken-burrito-filling/detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/taco-seasoning-i/detail.aspx

Tuesday:  Ribeye Steak and grilled asparagus
(A real treat!  We bought steak at Sam's Club this weekend and I don't want to freeze it!)

Wednesday:  Grilled chicken and Little Mama's Side Dish

(I've never made Little Mama's Side Dish but it got rave reviews.  What's not to like about bacon and olives?!)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/low-carb-and-lovin-it/little-mamas-side-dish-recipe/index.html

Thursday:  Spaghetti squash with Meatballs and marinara

(Tip:  Poke holes in your squash with a knife, bake for an hour at 350, remove and cool before slicing.  So much easier than amputating fingers trying to open an uncooked squash!)

http://sleeploveeat.com/2010/03/15/mammas-meatballs-and-marinara-sauce/

Friday:  PIZZA NIGHT!  Woot!

Saturday: Rosemary Balsamic Grilled Pork Chops & Balsamic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

(These pork chops are the best I've ever had.  Definitely double the rosemary!)

http://cookingwithmichele.com/2010/04/rosemary-balsamic-pork-chops/
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/balsamic_parmesan_roasted_cauliflower.html

Sunday:  Wing it, think up something while shopping!


**********************
NOTES

-  I almost always stick to the plan.  Occasionally, I get hormonal/tired/lazy and have my husband bring home Thai food or Greek salads but usually my plan is pretty spot on.

-  Friday is always pizza night/going out to eat.  Without fail.

-  I usually shop on Sundays because the Commissary is closed on Mondays.  This makes Sunday kind of a free day - we'll order out or I'll just pick something random while I'm at the store.

-  I do not use circulars/sales/coupons when meal planning.  Coupons are super hard to come by in the armpit of the country where I live but because I shop on a military post at the Commissary I know I'm getting a really good deal.

-  Because we are following the Paleo way of eating these menus are very protein heavy and cheese light.  Husband still eats sour cream/cheese/bread as a side on occasion but I avoid them 98% of the time.

-  The warm weather/time of year has us grilling out often!

-  If Husband works a night or goes to a work event I DO NOT COOK.  I don't enjoy cooking for just myself but heck, take-out for one is always fun!!