Wednesday Wisdom

March 11, 2015

Is it just me or do Wednesdays seem to really be a breaking point in the week? I think it is the momentum from Monday crashing with the excitement of the soon-to-be weekend that leaves me feeling unrest. I had so much fun putting together my first Wednesday Wisdom post and promised more to come. Not every week, but when the time felt right and darnit… the time feels right.

So, if you are fighting any internal battles, not your best self or are searching for the words to turn your day, week or even month around; hopefully, one of these may strike your fancy and bring a new attitude and pep in your step.

Here is to Wednesday! May you be the catalyst for great things ahead.

By the way, the last picture is by far one of my top favorite quotes! It just makes me smile.

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Gingham Style

March 10, 2015

Eh – Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
Oppa is Gingham style…

Try to get that song out of your head now! It is going to stick with you for a bit. And, to think it only took three years since it was released to finally fight the earworm off. I know I am sorry!

You know what I am not sorry for? This Spring 2015 fashion trend and these looks that hopefully will stick with you like that darn song…

Notice the trend? This Spring’s fashion points to all things Gingham and I love this look. It is a refreshing style that can be dressed up or down and as you can see from some of the inspiration pictures I pulled above, whether you are leaning on the subtle side of the Gingham fence or dare to be bold, this Spring trend is so versatile.

Ready to shop? Here are some Gingham pieces I am currently eyeing up.

From left to right: 1. Shirt – Forever 21 – 17.90 | 2. Skirt – Bloomingdale’s – 68.00 | 3. Dress – ASOS – Reg. 92.00, Sale 37.00 | 4. Coat – Nordstrom (Michael Kors) – 128.00

Now hurry up and turn on some music to get the song out of your head and start shopping!

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Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Night Smoothie

March 7, 2015

“Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Night Smoothie” is what I shall name this smoothie because it really is good any time of day! I mean as I write this, my mouth is watering. It really is that delicious! The story behind this concoction can be attributed to my limited time these days. It was late in the evening, my husband made tacos with questionable meat. That is another story for another day but I will say when I walked into the kitchen and saw he was pacing over the meat sitting in a pan on the stove, I knew we had a problem. Long story short, he cooked the meat, I declined on the dinner gesture, he ate the food and walked away without getting sick. All is well.

I basically made this smoothie with a bunch of ingredient leftovers and it was so good I had to share! Smoothies really are your best friend if you allow them to be. They are easy to make, very tasty and with the right ingredients can be a super healthy option. I find myself happier when I make smart food decisions vs caving to the chocolates calling my name in the “Snack Cupboard.” By the way… doesn’t everyone have a “Snack Cupboard?”

Good Morning, Good Afternoon & Good Night Smoothie:

Serves 2

2 Bananas
1 Cup of Frozen Strawberries
1/2 Cup of Blueberries
3/4 Cup of Orange Juice
2 Tbsp of Honey

Combine the Bananas, Frozen Strawberries, Blueberries, Orange Juice and Honey in a blender. Mix well and serve!

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SALE ALERT: Extra 30% Off & Free Shipping

March 5, 2015

I am obsessed with pinning outfits on Pinterest. Have you seen MY BOARD? Problem is when you click the image and see the price points of the items that make up those outfits. WOW! Most of the time they are so out of my price range.

I like a good deal. So, I get a thrill out of replicating a look with less expensive, yet similar clothing items. What is even better? When the actual item you are eyeing up goes on sales. A really, really good sale.

Such is the case with this look I have been eyeing up on Pinterest.

Image credit

See that chain link bracelet? Yep! She has caught my eye for some time. Unfortunately, I was not willing to pay the price for her. So, when I saw that J.Crew Factory was having a FLASH SALE today I was all game to fill my shopping cart. Guess what? The bracelet… it is there and on sale too!

SAVE AN EXTRA 30% OFF with the code SHOPSALE. Below are some of my favorite sale items. Keep in mind… an extra 30% off J.Crew Factory Clearance!! It is a good day.

EDIT: Offer valid at jcrewfactory.com through March 8, 2015, through 11:59pm ET. Some exclusions apply.

Get your shopping on!

Spoil Away

March 4, 2015

I have been thinking about this post for some time now. The thought of it keeps nagging me. Often my posts are planned and other times they are spur of the moment, like this ONE. I was a blubbering mess when I wrote that one. It is one of my favorites though!

Sometimes a thought hits me and I jot down the idea to venture back around. However, this one, well this one, has kept coming at me like those “trust your gut” feelings. I will be honest, I kind of ignored the thought a few times because I was worried what people would think with what I had to say. Parenting can be so controversially because everyone does it differently and has their own biases. Then I thought, “this is my Blog dagnabbit and if I want to write about it, well I can.” That is how it goes when you are the boss. And, on here, I am the boss! 🙂

So, let’s go… hey, maybe it won’t be so bad?

The four words I really have grown to despise these days – “You are spoiling her!” I really don’t like hearing it. I actually hate it to be frank.

Can you really spoil a 10-week old baby? It is not like she is asking for candy when we go to the market to which I either immediately cave or say “no” multiple times all while walking the aisles listening to her scream and cry until I can no longer take it, finally circling back around to hand her the candy. It is not like I make us a family meal to which my infant turns up her nose, declaring McDonald’s and then I rush out of our home to return with her nugget meal just in time before she has cried herself to sleep. You see to me… that is spoiling.

Right now I have a little baby whose only means of communicating with me is to cry. She knows no other way. She does not know what a temper tantrum is yet. She is not crying because she wants something out of selfishness or neediness. She cries because she can’t say – “hey, mom, ummm… I dirtied myself, a dry diaper would be awesome.” She cries because of basic needs.

I will admit, Lo likes to be held. She is content in our arms. If I put her under her play yard or in her swing, yes, I gain about 15 minutes of hands free time to do something. However, like clockwork though, she will cry and I will pick her up. “You are spoiling her. She wants to be held all the time.” As a mom, it seriously goes through me like a knife. Yes, she wants to be held, but the root of it is that she wants affection or to be close to someone. Just like crying because she is hungry, tired, has a dirty diaper or is not feeling good, needing comfort IS a basic need for an infant. In my opinion, responding to her is building her confidence. She is learning that she can rely upon me and trust that I will be there. I am building her sense of security. Isn’t that the opposite of dependence?

I have been told I am spoiling her from responding to her whimpering too quickly. I should let her cry more before I pick her up. The fact is I see her hunger cues. She is rooting, sucking her hand or turning her head back and forth. Why wait until she is screaming to feed her? It is not spoiling when you know your baby and trust your intuition. Soothing your child is part of parenting.

Granted I understand there will come a day when my infant reaches toddler hood and she will develop a sense of what is wrong and right. She will begin to understand how her actions affect her world. She will have temper tantrums and push her boundaries and my buttons. She will then enter a world where I will comprehend those dreaded words… “You are spoiling her!”

She is 10-weeks old today, but 10-years old tomorrow. I will love her and care for her and savor every single minute of her because one day I may not be the one she reaches for first, cries out to for help, depends on for basic needs or sadly, falls asleep in my arms.The reality of it all is that whether I am picking up my crying baby from her swing or allowing her to softly sleep on my chest, she is spoiling me. And, that, I am okay with!

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Puppy Chow

March 1, 2015

Do you ever associate certain foods or recipes with a particular person? I know I do.

Maybe it is a recipe that no one else can touch. I have that type of food association with potato salad. No matter where, when or with who… if I am enjoying potato salad somewhere, I am not quite fully enjoying because unless it was made by my grandma, Meema, well there is no comparison. No one can touch her potato salad recipe.

Maybe it is recipe that you can rely on that person to make for every special occasion. My mom’s cheesy potatoes make their debut at every holiday meal. She really has no choice. It is one of her specialties that us kids just love. I feel sorry for her that she will never be able to venture out with other dishes, because it is expected that when we sit down to eat, her cheesy potatoes will be on that table.

Maybe it is a recipe that you associate with a memory. You know, an item that takes you back to a certain place. For me, Puppy Chow hits home in this category and reminds me of my paternal grandmother. Known to us grandkids and to many as TuTu.

Unique name for a grandmother, huh? We think so too, but you know we would have it no other way. The story goes that when I was a baby I referred to her as Grandma… that was until she traveled to Hawaii to visit her sister and brother-in-law who lived on the island. There she heard little girls saying “TuTu.” She eventually inquired and learned that “TuTu” is the most common used named to refer to one’s grandmother. It stuck. She liked it and when she returned from her trip she quite simply stated that she would be called TuTu. So, there you have it!

I can’t quite remember the exact moment I had Puppy Chow, but I know it was with TuTu. In fact, when I sit here and write this and think back I just keep thinking of me as a child in her kitchen reaching my hands up onto the counter and pulling down a tupperware container full of this sweet treat.

I am sure I am not the only one who knows her that associates this food with her. It has made its fair share of debuts at family gatherings and picnics. This is not a recipe she created, in fact the recipe exists out there under many names, but as sweet as this dessert is so too are the memories I also have of her. To me, anytime I hear or enjoy Puppy Chow I know I will think of my TuTu. And, as I make it… I smile at the wonderful memories this simple recipe has given me.

PUPPY CHOW:

8 Cups of Rice Chex Cereal
1 Stick of Butter
1 24 oz. Bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter
2 1/2 Cups of Powdered Sugar

Measure out the cereal adding 4 cups to a large mixing bowl and reserving the remaining 4 cups to the side. Cut up the stick of butter into three sections for easy melting. Add the butter, bag of semi-sweet morsels and peanut butter to a sauce pan and stir until combined on low heat. Be sure to stir and pay attention to the melting. You do not want to burn the chocolate. Once melted add to the rice cereal in the mixing bowl and stir lightly. Add the remaining 4 cups of cereal that were reserved to the side and combine ingredients. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to a gallon bag and pour half of the cereal mixture into the bag, seal and shake. Continue to add the powdered sugar and cereal mixture to the bag, seal and shake until all ingredients are combined. I add powdered sugar and the cereal mixture in batches as I find it is easier to coat vs. combining all ingredients at once.

You may think I am thanking you for checking out the Blog, which I am, but also consider Puppy Chow as a gift! After returning to work from Maternity Leave, I plan on thanking my office for all of their assistance while I was away. Just package the Puppy Chow in a container. Here I used tupperware, baker’s ribbon and a gift tag.

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February Favorites

February 28, 2015

It is the last day of February! Hard to believe that we are heading into March, but to be honest, I am looking forward to the flip of the calendar as we enter a new month. We are one step closer to Spring… one step closer to temperatures above freezing… one step closer to not having to scrape car windows… one step closer to busting out flip flops! Man, I miss those flip flops.

If you have been following my Blog, you know that I am a New Mommy. We hit the 10 week old mark today which translates to – “Mommy, is starting to get the hang of this thing.” With that comes some new found personal time to start pampering myself again. Even if pampering means a 10 minute shower and 10 minutes of quiet, peaceful bathroom time alone to focus on me. I will take what I can get!

1 – Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener – I strategically made this favorite item #1 on my list. I mean the name speaks for itself. A 24-hour span goes something like this… (starting at 8 pm) feed baby, put baby to bed, do some dishes,check baby, lay out items for work, check on baby, pack baby’s diaper bag for sitter, check on baby, brush teeth, check on baby, go to bed myself, wake up because baby cooed or made a new sound in sleep, back to sleep, wake up to crying baby, change baby, feed baby, put baby back to bed, lay awake staring at ceiling worrying about something, fall asleep, wake up to baby crying, change baby, feed baby, debate whether to go back to bed or just get up for the day, get up for the day, leave for work, work, multiple calls and texts checking on baby, lunch, work, drive home, pick-up baby, cuddle baby, feed baby, put baby down for nap, eat part of dinner until baby wakes, feed baby, change baby, bath baby, cuddle time and REPEAT. Yes… there are bags under my eyes! This product is amazing.

2 – Bed Head Colour Goddess Oil Infused Shampoo – The first and foremost reason I love this product is simply due to its scent. It oozes sweet caramel and I melt. My hair has never been smoother and it leaves a great shine. But again, back to its scent… while it is made for your hair, I have been tempted just to use as a body wash, because it smells that good!

3 – C.O. Bigelow – Vanillamint Supreme – I am a sucker for lip gloss. Always have been and probably always will be. I have never been a lipstick kind of girl. I feel most comfortable with a balm and if I am feeling extra fancy just give me the gloss. This product provides great lip moisturizer, includes a breath freshener and leaves a great walk-out-the-door, I really am trying, shine.

4 – Mary Kay Oil-Free Makeup Remover – Add this to a cotton ball, give your face and eyelids a few swipes and you have yourself a shiny clean face. I will admit I was a go to bed in makeup kind of girl, until I was introduced to Mary Kay’s Makeup Remover. I think I may have even heard my pores screaming when I would use a wet wash cloth and body bar soap to scrub away the daily grime. Thankfully those were my old ways. Plus, this product is hypoallergenic and great for those with sensitive skin.

5 – Essie’s Miss Fancy Pants – This is such a chic color and it reminds me of Spring. Essie while pricier than most nail polishes is just a better nail polish quality. It always lasts longer on my nails. Also, if you are currently pregnant, Essie is considered a “safe” nail polish to use. So, schedule that pedicure! And, to all, if you are looking for a good laugh… do yourself a favor and read this Buzzfeed article, One Man’s Attempt To Guess Nail Polish Names. It will leave you chuckling out loud and in tears.

Happy February!

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Wednesday Wisdom

February 25, 2015

Well we made it folks… halfway through the work week. It was a big and rough week for me as I returned to the workforce after my Maternity Leave. Was it hard? Absolutely! Have I cried? Well, was Vanilla Ice a one-hit-wonder?

Yes! Of course. I cried! A lot.

The worst part was the days leading up to my return. The best way to describe it is as follows… imagine an amazing vacation, a vacation in paradise, the perfect vacation, a vacation you dreamed about and waited so long for. Now imagine the last day of that perfect world. You know that feeling? The dreaded countdown. This is our last night, last lunch, last sunset, last day without a care in the world… until we return next year. Now take that thought and multiple it by 100. No, maybe 200. Dramatic? Nah! The gut wrenching pain is real.

I have found comfort in quotes through multiple points in my life. Whether it has been times of happiness or pain; quotes have provided me with the eloquent words I wish I could say. So, it was no exception that as I struggled with my emotions, I found myself searching the Internet (I told you I was a Professional Googler – See Here) for something to grasp and make me feel better.

It is amazingly simple but therapeutic, so I thought I would share some that stuck out to me this week as I searched for the right things to think or say. I call this post Wednesday Wisdom. I do not plan on doing this every week, but here and there on Wednesdays when the urge calls. Hopefully, one of these will resonate with you. And, maybe, just maybe it will be the simple thing you need to get through anything that may be nagging at you.

Have a great week, friends!

Let this post be a feel good post. If you have a favorite quote you have found this week or one that you live by, please share below.

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Easy Fish Tacos

February 22, 2015

When it comes to making dinner I am drawn to “easy” recipes. Why make things hard on yourself if you don’t have to? You won’t find any crazy ingredients in my recipes. In fact, I always find myself laughing at certain TV show Chefs who boast the easy peasiness (is that a word? My spell check is currently saying no. I am saying yes and just made it one) of a dish they made before the camera using ingredients I am not sure are sold in grocery stores within a 100 mile radius from here. If a recipe calls for an ingredient that I need to Google to know what it is, I usually mentally check out.

I say hail to the easy recipes of this world and want to provide one to add to your repertoire. If you love fish tacos, then I think you will enjoy this dish. It is light and tasty. Good news – if you make this recipe during the brutal winter months like I have, well then boys and girls, for a brief moment old man winter knocking outside your door morphs into a good looking pool boy on standby with a refreshing Pina colada. This recipe seriously reminds me of summer!

So, if you don’t want to take my word for it take the imaginary pool boy’s. Let’s go!
Easy Fish Tacos:
Serves 2 – 4

Fish prep

1 – 1.5 lbs of Cod
Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Cayenne Pepper and Garlic Powder to taste

Slaw prep

2 Cups – Packaged Cole Slaw with Carrot
4 – Green Onion Bulbs – Diced (both white and green part)
1 – Garlic Clove – Minced
1 – Lime (Juice)
1 – Avocado – Diced
Salt and Pepper to taste

Sauce prep

1/2 Cup – Sour Cream
1 – Lime (Juice)
1/2 tsp of Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp of Chili Powder

Extra ingredients

Tortillas (I use small corn, served warm)
1 – Can of Black Beans

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange Cod on a baking sheet and season both sides with Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Cayenne Pepper and Garlic Powder to taste. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. While fish bakes, prepare the slaw and sauce. For the slaw, combine the Cole Slaw Mix, diced Green Onion Bulbs, minced Garlic Clove, juice of one Lime and diced Avocado in a bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. In another bowl mix the Sour Cream, juice of one Lime, Garlic Powder and Chili Powder. Once the fish is done cooking, move the cooked fish to a bowl and shred. To assemble, heat the tortillas in the microwave. Be sure to cover with a paper towel. Cook for 15 – 20 seconds. Spread the sauce down the middle of the Tortilla, add a spoonful of fish, top with slaw and serve. I cooked Black Beans on the stove top and served on the side. Enjoy!

Eating My Words

February 20, 2015

My little Lo Bug, as I like to call her, turns a whopping two months old today. Yes, I am shedding a tear as I write this. No, I am not dramatic and I am sure all my fellow mother friends out there can relate to this feeling. The feeling of time. Precious, precious time.

I can’t believe we have hit this milestone already. Looking back to the wee hours of the morning on December 20th, when she arrived, already feels so far away. Those first few days and weeks when I was really not sleeping, new to the whole motherhood gig and really just starting to get to know my baby, I like to refer to those days as the walking zombie phase. During those early days I paced the floor, doing the typical “mom” bounce that we all develop, shushing my crying little one, in sweats that I was going on day three of wearing (don’t judge!) and thinking… “I will never sleep again. I will never figure this out. I will never be myself again.”

Now I am eating those words and so many others.

“I will never sleep again!” Yes, yes you will. And, I have! Thankfully. No, it is not the same sleep as my childless self, but baby does adapt and start to get on a schedule. Some nights are better than others but you do find sleep as time progresses. At two months, I am still exhausted, and no, baby does not sleep through the night yet, but she is starting to sleep at longer stretches, giving me, some much needed shut eye.

“I will never breastfeed.” This was me prior to being pregnant and even for the first good half of my pregnancy. It wasn’t until I started reading (translation becoming a professional “Googler”) that I started to consider breastfeeding after learning about the benefits for both baby and Mom. I scheduled myself for a Breastfeeding Class during my pregnancy and that is what sealed the deal for me to give it a try. I am not advocating breastfeeding here. In fact, to be honest, I supplement baby Lo with formula as well. That is what works for me and you will find out what works for you too. However, I never thought I would do it, but here I am 8 weeks later, still going strong and actually enjoying.

“I will never give my baby a pacifier.” Really? Yes. I will admit that I actually thought and said this before. I always felt like a pacifier was an unnecessary soother and that there had to be other means to calm baby. HaHa – oh silly girl! Tell that to a Mom as she is trying to calm her precious baby that seemed to morph into a screech owl. Just kidding, people! I was also so fearful of starting a habit that I would eventually have to break. Guess what? I will cross that bridge when I get there, but for now, baby Lo is grateful for the binkie (what we call it around here in Mountain Maryland) and so am I!

“I will never figure this out.” Oh, my dear, yes, yes you will. I remember questioning everything I did. I think I texted my mother play by plays of every sound baby Lo made. I even recorded her hiccups once because they sounded so deep that I thought for sure something was wrong. I sent the video to my mother asking… “is this normal?” Then after she declared yes, I still asked baby Lo’s pediatrician TWICE, yes, two times people, in the same appointment. Oh, first time Mom worries. I am not over this hump yet, far from it, but my worries from yesterday subside for new worries, and you start to figure it out.

“I will never let my baby into my bed.” Baby has her bed. Mommy and Daddy have theirs. There is no mixing. I did not want again, a habit. Have you seen a cute little infant in sweet PJ’s with morning eyes and yawns starring at you from their bassinet or crib? Seriously, it is the sweetest thing! You want to swoop them up and squeeze them and snuggle all morning. And, that is just what we have done and do. It doesn’t get better. They get cuter! Now my mind thinks… they are only little once. Enjoy these moments. I think now is the part where I should state to learn about SIDS. Bringing baby into your bed does have its risks. You can learn more Here.

“I will never let myself go.” I did not realize pre-baby how much time baby takes from you. Doing my hair, make-up and getting dressed takes time. I will state again… it takes time. There are days when I debate how to use my “free” time to do dishes, laundry, watch an episode of Real Housewives or Gasp! take a nap. I threw this “I never” out the window the first week. Enough said.

“I will never put work on the back burner.” This one surprised me the most! During my pregnancy I was so proud to state, “I will take 5 weeks off and be back to work.” I thought I was superwoman. Many people questioned me and I quickly shot them down. Work needs me, I need work, I will be back just as soon as I can. After a surprise C-Section – Read Here – I was required to take at least 8 weeks. What I did not realize was how quickly I bonded with my baby and how being superwoman now has everything to do with her and being a Mom.

“I will never be myself again.” Oh, this one is a dozy. Hormones are raging the weeks after baby. Sleep, Ha! Who needs sleep? You feel so unlike your former self it is almost heartbreaking. Although, slowly glimpses of the old me started to shine through. The best part of this revelation for me is that my never statement is part true. “I will never be myself again” No, you will not. Why? Because you are a better you. I am a better me. Babies do crazy things to you. In a really, really good way.

Do you have any words you have eaten when you became a parent? Please share below!