Self-Improvement

My husband is on this self-improvement streak - he's listening to all these podcasts, reading books on marriage, parenting, leadership, business. And I guess it's contagious because I'm doing too. I'm dieting. I'm working out (something I truly hate, but I'm adjusting my attitude), I'm reading the parenting and marriage and budgeting books, I'm listening to podcasts and such on how to improve my business. It's sort of funny, since this is totally not how I saw myself at all. But it's fun to think that I can improve upon myself. It's fun to think that I year from now, I'll be a better person overall.

My one frustration right now is the exercise. And it's not so much the doing it, but I'm getting weird resistance from my husband! He wants me to exercise, he's encouraging on that, but he won't let me sign up for the gym until we "check the budget" even though I've used up my 2 free passes already! And I need the gym and its childcare or I'm not going to do it, you know?

Recipe!

I am starting a business - as a consultant for Thirty-One Gifts so I've been very distracted of late getting things ready! But! Today, I have a recipe to share that I found on Pinterest and it is yummy, yummy! (I promise, I made some myself. I'm also already plotting how to get a mini-loaf pan to give this stuff away for Christmas gifts, too!) So I thought I'd share in lieu of a real, post!

Cinnamon Sugar Bread

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup white sugar (divide it out, as you need some for the batter and some for the "filling")

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup white sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and 1 cup sugar. Add egg, milk, and oil to flour mixture.

Stir until just moistened.

Pour half of the batter into pan.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and 1/3 cup sugar (you can mix together cinnamon and sugar before hand, I didn't though I just sprinkled away).
Cover with remaining batter.

Top with more cinnamon/sugar if desired.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.
Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Wrap in foil and let sit overnight before slicing (I sliced off pieces then wrapped the rest of the loaf in foil).

10 on Tuesday: Foodie version

1. What is a food that you never thought you would try, but then tried and liked?
I could say a bunch of things, if we go back a number of years. Growing up, I was a very picky eater. It wasn't until my (now) husband started to cook for me regularly that I broke out of my chicken-and-pasta rut. Buffalo chicken, Asian food (sushi, Thai, even Chinese since my mom's version of Chinese food was that canned stuff that looked like mucus surrounding bean sprouts), escargot. Also BBQ. I found a version that I love (hello spicy Texas BBQ sauce!) and I'm now addicted to a good non-molasses-based BBQ sauce.

2. Do you subscribe to any foodie publications? If so, which ones?
Nope. I like food, but I'm not so into reading about food.

3. What ingredient do you find yourself reaching for the most when you cook?
Garlic powder or Garlic salt.

4. Are there any foods that you hated as a child, but then learned to like as an adult?
Vegetables in general. BBQ. All sorts of Asian food.

5. What do you like to eat that others may consider weird?
Black liccorice? So many people hate that taste. I LOVE it. Also really spicy food.

6. What is the weirdest ingredient you’ve ever cooked with?
I have no idea. I leave the creative and different stuff to my husband.

7. Do you have any major food allergies?
I have a major sensitivity to MSG and related products. And my daughter can't eat peanuts or peanut butter.

8. Is there an ingredient that you would like to cook with, but are intimidated to try?
I can't think of anything. Like I said, I usually leave the creative or unusual to my husband who is willing to try anything twice.

9. Do you bake?
Yes! I LOVE to bake. I wasn't a very good cook until I got married (my husband taught me to cook and to enjoy it.) - I was intimidated by meat, if you want to know the truth. But I have always loved to bake. Ever since my Easy Bake Oven days. One year for Christmas I made 15 different types of cookies from scratch (pre-kids, of course.)

10. If you could go on any “foodie” show to compete, which one would it be, and why?
No clue. I can't even think of any that I know the title for.

For more 10 on Tuesday, please visit Chelsea.

Real Quick 10 on Tues

1. What was your high school superlative (if you didn’t have one- what would it have been)?
I was first-runner up for Most Talented (we only had 6 categories, so there were limited people named)

2. What sports did you play in high school?
None. Absolutely None. I cheered in Jr High, but I was a music/drama/journalism geek.

3. What was the best part about your wedding (if you’re not married yet, what are you looking forward to)?
I loved the flowers, but seriously? The BEST part was saying I do to my best friend.

4. It’s your last meal– what Appetizer, Soup, Salad, Entree and Dessert would you choose?
My husband made me lobster last night and it was pretty great, so that is on my mind. I'd say cheese seafood fondue (they have a good one at Red Lobster) for appetizer, either Thai chicken and rice soup or Cajun Gumbo for soup, a really great, fresh Caesar salad, and either lobster with lemon and drawn butter or crab and lobster au gratin (a dish I had once in New Orleans - the best place for food anyhow) and dessert... either authentic Italian Tiramisu or a Chocolate Mousse Mouse from this bakery here - so good!

5. What song is your guilty pleasure?
Evanesence songs, probably. My Immortal, maybe?

6. What is your favorite professional sports team, and why do you like them?
New Orleans Saints! When my husband and I started dating, he was totally into football and I HATED it. (issues from when I was dating my first boyfriend and he ignored me for all things football) so to get me interested in his Sunday pasttime, he involved me in his family tradition of "picks" where they do a football pool, etc. I tended to pick teams based on their colors, their cities, or if I liked one of their players. And I have loved New Orleans since the first time I arrived in the city about 10 years ago, so I picked the Saints as a favorite team. Even though they sucked for a lot of years (they weren't very good when I started paying attention to football) they have been the only ones I've stuck with consistently and then, this year when they went to to and WON the SuperBowl was even more amazing!

7. What is your favorite reality show and why do you like it?
I hate reality TV. I don't watch any of it. I watched the first season of American Idol and the first 3 seasons of America's Next Top Model and then I was done. I can't stand reality TV. So I have no favorite.

8. How would you classify your home decorating style (modern, classic, french country)?
Classic

9. Pizza- deep dish or thin crust? White sauce or red sauce? What toppings?
Thin crust. I'd prefer white sauce and my favorite pizza is a white spinach ricotta (and garlic) pizza from a local chain. My second favorite, classic pizza is Papa John's pepperoni and mushrooms.

10. Favorite weekend getaway within a two hour driving radius?
Orlando, FL.

For more 10 on Tuesday, check out Chelsea and her new SON! (Congrats, btw!)

10 on Tuesday

1. What book, movie or song has made you want to travel to a particular place? (eg. I went to Prince Edward Island because I was such a Anne of Green Gables fan)
I have a list. My mom and gramma and I went to Prince Edward Island because of the Anne books, I've always wanted to visit Charleston, SC because of a couple of books written by Alexandra Ripley and a series I read as a child called the Mandy books (I think) and I was so excited to visit New Orleans (multiple times and I'm ready to go again) after reading New Orleans Legacy by Alexandra Ripley plus a number of other books that I've picked up specifically because they are about N.O. after I had been there the first time.

2. Aside from your significant other, who would you want to take with you on a dream trip?
Possibly Fuss, though at this point in my life, going without kids would be ideal. I'd love to travel with my sister, too

3. Where would said dream trip be to?
Either Europe or the historical southern cities tour my husband and I have been planning for what seems like forever (St Augustine, Savannah, Charleston, Asheville, Williamsburg, etc.

4. If you were hosting guests or providing tips, what three things would you show visitors to your hometown? (be it where you live now or where you grew up)
Clearwater Beach, Busch Gardens, and a real beach like Reddington or Indian Rocks (Clearwater Beach has become completely touristy - no locals really hang out there)

5. If you had a long weekend ahead of you, where you head – beach, city or country/mountains?
City or mountains. I'm not a big beach person except for the sunsets...

6. Do you have a passport? If so, did you get it for a particular trip or just to have, in case?
Never had a passport. I've been to Canada twice, but that was before you had to have a passport to go/come back from Canada, so I never got one...

7. Are there any travel souvenirs you collect? If not, is there something else you collect?
We have a bunch of shot glasses from various places we've visited since we've been married and a few mugs for coffee, as well. I used to collect pins or key chains, depending on the trip, but I've given those up completely. I wouldn't say we actually collect these things seriously, though. But I do like to get a souvenir from places we travel.

8. If you could name a paint colour, what colour would it be and what would you call it?
It would probably be a blue or green and I'd name it after something in nature.

9. If you were heading away for a weekend citybreak solo, where would you go? (forget about practicality here and flight times, assume you can get to any city in the world for the weekend)
By myself? I have no idea. That baffles my mind. I've never been anywhere on my own (without meeting someone at the destination. I've traveled by myself) Probably some place with a great hotel and room service and shopping available nearby. I would likely spend a couple of days of alone time reading books and shopping.

10. Is there a song or a smell or something that you strongly associate with a particular holiday/place/time, such that it always takes you back?
Cajun spices and melted cheese or beignets and coffee (or more precisely, chickory) from the Cafe Du Monde and all of that reminds me of New Orleans, the best place for food in the world.

For more 10 on Tuesday click here.

Things on Thursday

I have so many little things to write about today, that I'm bummed it's not Friday and time for 7 Quick Takes. :) So you get bullet points instead.

• Last night I had a bit of a melt down when in the course of 2 hours I discovered my husband was going to be more than an hour late coming home (and I would have to make dinner without the benefit of a Fuss-distraction), Fuss dumped 1/3 of a box of Splenda all over my (fairly new) living room rug, she then proceeded to feed the dogs handfuls of their food and join them in the snack, I broke a glass while cleaning dishes. I caught myself having irrational, hormonally driven thoughts about how my husband never helps around here (not true) and how there was no way I was going to be able to handle 2 kids at the same time and I would have to give the baby up for adoption or something. (Also not going to happen). I know it's crazy and I even sort of caught myself in these thoughts and was able to say "That's crazy talk!" but it was sort of freaky nonetheless.
  
• We've gotten back into this temper-tantrum phase and I'm afraid it's no longer just her not knowing how to handle something, but that's she's 2. The Terrible Twos. Someone please help me get through this.
  
• I successfully tricked her into napping in the big girl bed yesterday when she fell asleep in the car and I simply transferred her to the bed instead of the crib. She slept long and hard and mommy was very happy with the result.
• I had the "quick shopping trip" from Hades today when I ran in to our local Publix to pick up 3 things: Cream cheese, so my husband can enjoy my Gramma's home made date nut bread that she brought him yesterday, Splenda, to replace the box that was emptied in the living room last night, and beer so I can make the Beer Bread mix I just got from my SIL's PartyLite party last month. (I also picked up the ravioli mentioned below). The parking lot was as packed as I've ever seen it, short of the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas and I had an incredibly crotchety old woman check out person. She barked at me that she had to see some ID (I was buying beer, but seriously? I'm nearly 30. And right now, I really look it) and then when she took too long to hit the button to process my transaction and I started to walk away distractedly with my 2-year-old hanging on me like a monkey and fussing, she barked at me again and gave me a lecture about how I have to wait until the transaction has been approved. I think someone might want to get a job that doesn't involve people.
  
• My kid loves Chef Boyardee Mini Raviolis. This should be no surprise to anyone who knew me in elementary school (I could have lived off such things at the time) but the fact that she willing ate something with meat in it and then asked for more was astounding to me today.
  
• Despite the fact that it's early for her to nap, she asked to go to bed shortly after lunch. At first she said, "cib, cib" so, not in the mood for a fight and since she asked so nicely, I put her in her crib, sang her her lullaby (a derivative of You Are My Sunshine") and left. Several minutes later I heard her begin crying. "Mommy! Bed! Mommy! Bed!" When I went into check on her, she asked to sleep in the Big Girl Bed. She pulled the extra pillow up and asked me to lay down with her, which I did, and she fell asleep rather quickly. I quietly extricated myself from the bed (we put up guard rails, so it's not as easy as it could be) and she is happily snoring clutching her Maddie the Monkey and snuggled up to my old Boppy pillow which she has adopted in the bed. Whatever it takes, right?

So that's my last 18 hours or so. At least the highlights. Sometimes motherhood is a wild roller coaster in the dark and you have no idea which way it's going to turn next.

A weird case of the Mondays

This is going to be a weird post because I want to talk about several unrelated things and I have no idea how to transition them, so just to give you some warning: weird post.

I nearly fell asleep at work this morning. Partly, this was due to the fact that it was gross and drizzly outside (which is really the best time to sleep, or at the very least curl up on the couch and do nothing) and also that no customers were coming in due to said weather. Also partly to blame: my first trimester.

When the shift finally ended (it seemed interminable) I took Fuss out to the car, slid her in her seat, put my stuff down, and got behind the wheel. I was desperate to stop for gas (riding on fumes) so when I pulled into the gas station, Fuss popped down out of her seat and stood next to me. Yeah. I put my kid in her car seat and forgot to buckle her in. I am not winning Mother of the Year.

I righted the wrong and got my gas and we got home without further incident, but I started to think about what COULD have happened and had a bit of a freak out. Needless to say, will be much more cautious in the future.

*********************

The lovely Maggie had a great post this morning about her early days of grocery shopping and it made me think of my own early days of grocery shopping. And so now, i have to copy her. Because I do. Because it's on my brain and I just really think I want to write about it.

So, as a kid, those eating food in my house were just my two parents, both of who worked full-time (and then some at certain points) and me. In later years, my dad was home so infrequently, that I don't remember us making him dinner regularly. But my mom tried to stick with a weekly shopping trip for the most part, but she didn't do the menu thing very often unless there was a request and again, in later years we ate a LOT of fast food because we were out so late and it was just her and me, etc. (I would go to work with her nearly every day after school, or hang out with my "sister" also at work since we owned the place and she would take me home after 7:30, depending on where my mom was working, etc.) She stilled cooked regularly, but I don't know that she put a lot of forethought into the meals when she shopped.

When in college, my parents split up and my mom and I became like roommates. We rarely had a sit-down meal, just the 2 of us and so when we wanted something from the grocery, we would simply go, get what we needed at the time and use it accordingly. But when I started dating Daddy Fuss, we were both working, had few personal expenses (both living at home, rent-free) and to get any sort of "privacy" we would go out. To eat. I love to eat out. He cooked for me at my mom's periodically, but again it was a "go to the store and get what you need" sort of deal.

When we got married, we'd make a somewhat regular trip to the grocery store, but we only rarely felt like cooking after we got home from work and we ate out probably 2-3 times during the work week, and usually all weekend ( we actually had a regular breakfast cafe on weekend mornings. They knew us by name and knew our orders or pretty close. We also had a regular waitress at the restaurant next to our complex who, when we'd walk in the door would yell "you drinking tonight?" and depending on our answer would have our respective drinks - alcoholic or not - on the table before she came to get our order. She also would put in our appetizer order so we could be served immediately. We ate out a LOT).

The thing I regret about this time is that we wasted so much food. We threw out chicken and vegetables on a regular basis for lack of use and age. I wish we had been more responsible about that sort of stuff.

No Sushi?!?!

Last week at the Dr's office, my midwife gave me a nice little photocopied packet of info Do's and Don'ts for this pregnancy. A few things she said might be different from last time, etc. I don't know if that indicated that more research has been done, or a shift in "conventional wisdom" or just that we have a couple new OB medical personnel in the office now, but specifically, the new things I remember her pointing out were:
1. No drugs but Tylenol and Tums until 12 weeks. (Unless given by the OB staff) I don't remember being told the 12-week time line last time... After 12 weeks, I have a much clearer list of approved OTC medicines I can take for aches, pains, et al.
2. Don't lift anything over 25 pounds when exersizing (my question? does that include my 26 pound daughter? answer: just try not to carry her constantly)
3. No sushi. None.

And this is what is killing me.

I love sushi. Now, I'm a sushi roll sort of girl - I'm not into the chunks of raw/cold meats on a brick of sticky rice so much, but I love me some California roll, some Philly roll, some Volcano roll with lava sauce... (I'm drooling here as I think about it) and I've heard all the "no sushi when you're pregnant!" warnings, but I've also done some of my own research and learned that Japanese women don't drop their sushi when they are pregnant, so it's really a matter of being intelligent when you are consuming sushi. Make sure you're confident in the sushi-makers sanitary standards, etc. When I was pregnant with Fuss, I had occasional cravings for sushi and I would simply make sure that the rolls I ate were of the cooked-meat variety (smoked salmon, crab, shrimp tempura) and while that meant that I did have to skip a few of my favorite rolls, I still got my fix and everyone was happy.

And today my husband and I went to lunch at our favorite Thai/sushi restaurant up by his work. We started going there when it was only Thai food and loved it and it's where my husband had his first good sushi and it's been a favorite place ever since. I'd been thinking about Thai food there for a week or so and finally had the chance to go up and see him today and get some. I talked him into getting a sushi combo meal and I ended up filching some sushi from him because Oh My Gosh did it look good.

And I shouldn't have done that because after I had a piece of something, suddenly my Thai food wasn't as tasty. It was still good, but all I really wanted was that darn sushi.

I have a feeling that there is no way I'm going to make it without some sushi this pregnancy - I'm already starting to obsess about it and it's been less than an hour since we left the restaurant. There will likely be sushi in my immediate future. And to tell you the truth, I can't wait to have it again!!!!

The Breast of Times

Julie wrote on her blog this week about feeding her new baby: "However we nourish our children, we all want to give them the best in ourselves." And, oh, how I'm finding that to be true.

I don't have a problem pumping, though I don't get nearly the supply from the pump that I do when the baby is at my breast. But I'm finding myself counting the days, making plans, and very much looking forward to the time when The Fuss can be weaned. My original plan was for a year, but come her first birthday - wham! it was over. (obviously, there would be some time involved in the weaning process - I'm not stupid). My current thought? Nine or 10 months. Hopefully, 9, but I can probably deal if we're mostly done by 9 with a couple of feedings a day in the 10th month. Why is it that, nearly 6 months into it, I still don't like breastfeeding?

The thing is, you know what has kept me going this long? The indoctrination I read while pregnant from the Milk-Nazis about the detriments of formula. And my friends - those I trusted to be my examples - were so gung ho on breast feeding in the beginning. Having already fed several of their own and having babies around the same time as me (my sister had her youngest 4 months before The Fuss, my friend M had her youngest about 6 weeks before The Fuss), i was so sure they were anti-formula, too.

When my niece visited in June, she was 8 months old and had been on formula for 2 months or so. My sister had no issues with this whatsoever - felt no guilt, made no excuses, etc. She encouraged me to do whatever I felt was right. She taught me not to make excuses for feeding my child in public, etc.

My friend M just went back to work for the first time since her 3 year old was born. An office job (one Daddy Fuss and I helped her procure), she obviously can't bring her baby and she's never had much luck with the pump. In preparation for her return to work, she began to wean her daughter and had an easier time doing that than she did breast feeding.

But The Fuss hasn't had a drop of formula since she was a week old. Eventually, she'll need to go on formula if I'm going to wean her before a year, right? So should I start introducing it ahead of time? These night feedings in the last month have depleted my ability to replenish my frozen supply of milk and so any long period of time away from her (read: more than a feeding or two) will wipe out what is in my freezer and I'll have no emergency supply in case of unforseen circumstances. Wouldn't it be better to introduce her to some formula in case I'm hit by a car or something? Or is that ridiculous reasoning?

I just wish I liked breastfeeding her more. And lately, she's only wanted to eat for a few minutes at a time during the day, but often wants to eat more frequently (like every hour after she only ate for 3-5 minutes during the feeding she begged for) and I feel rejected and annoyed. I wasn't crazy about feeding her every 2 hours, what makes her think I want to feed her every hour? And when I have to convince her to eat? Ugh.

I'm just so tired of fighting her. Am I wussing out if I start to put her on formula? Will my husband kill me for adding to our expenses? I've got a ton of formula samples stockpiled, but how long will they last and can I mix brands, since they come from many different places?