Poor McSexy.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Most People do Meal Plan Mondays...
BUT....
I am not most people.
And since I currently work Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, it makes more sense for me to do meal plan Thursdays because I usually grocery shop on Thursdays during the day.
I have been doing a half-hearted job of meal planning because of McSexy's P90x routine (which by the way is FABULOUS! He looks RIPPED! Pictures to come!). He eats very simple, pretty clean meals, which is great for losing weight, but not that fun to plan. Now that he can eat more varied, I am attempting to come up with dinners that are still relatively healthy, but also easy and soothing for my cold weather-depressed self.
Here is our menu for the next two weeks. I plan to keep this menu through at least Christmas, probably January, with some tweaks if one of the Mc's (hubby or I) start to gain weight or I get pregnant. For us, eating the same meal twice, three, or even four times a month is more than okay. We also like to eatout (or order veggie pizza) at least one or two nights a week on a date or with friends, so that helps keep things varied :)
Notes: We are an almost completely vegetarian family, but we still have frozen chicken left to consume. When a recipe mentions chicken, it will either be the real thing, or Morningstar Chik'n strips. We also use the Quorn brand alot (my ABSOLUTE favorite!), but it is harder to find than Morningstar.
By the end of the week, we always have plenty of leftovers. If we don't, I supplement with my FAVORITE (but not great for you!) - Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, or we have soup again!
I also sometimes mix up a fruit salad in plain yogurt to go along with dinners. Also is good for breakfasts!
For breakfasts McSexy has a protein shake with berries, an egg sandwich (on whole wheat english muffin), or makes a veggie omelet for both of us. I usually have Fiber One cereal with berries, almond butter and banana english muffin sandwich, egg sandwich or oatmeal with protein powder and berries.
For lunches we eat leftovers, cheese or almond butter sandwiches, or cheese and crackers. Sometimes I pack soup, too. I usually pack fishies (major comfort food for me), a hard boiled egg, an apple/grapes, yogurt/cottage cheese, and cut up veggies (peppers, baby tomatoes and carrots). McSexy packs an extra protein bar for his snack. We also bring nuts (almonds mostly) and dried fruit to work early in the week in case we (or in my case McFatty and McBossy at school!) get hungry. I rarely eat it all, but I like having lots of food in case I get hungry!
I am constantly thinking about how many fruits and vegetables we are consuming each day and each week. McSexy doesn't monitor his veggie intake (one reason he would die without me, but that's another post), so I do and will adjust meals if he or I haven't had enough in the day or past couple days.
Hope this gives you some ideas! I'll let you know of any changes or substitutions or when we change it completely in the next few months!
I am not most people.
And since I currently work Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, it makes more sense for me to do meal plan Thursdays because I usually grocery shop on Thursdays during the day.
I have been doing a half-hearted job of meal planning because of McSexy's P90x routine (which by the way is FABULOUS! He looks RIPPED! Pictures to come!). He eats very simple, pretty clean meals, which is great for losing weight, but not that fun to plan. Now that he can eat more varied, I am attempting to come up with dinners that are still relatively healthy, but also easy and soothing for my cold weather-depressed self.
Here is our menu for the next two weeks. I plan to keep this menu through at least Christmas, probably January, with some tweaks if one of the Mc's (hubby or I) start to gain weight or I get pregnant. For us, eating the same meal twice, three, or even four times a month is more than okay. We also like to eatout (or order veggie pizza) at least one or two nights a week on a date or with friends, so that helps keep things varied :)
Notes: We are an almost completely vegetarian family, but we still have frozen chicken left to consume. When a recipe mentions chicken, it will either be the real thing, or Morningstar Chik'n strips. We also use the Quorn brand alot (my ABSOLUTE favorite!), but it is harder to find than Morningstar.
By the end of the week, we always have plenty of leftovers. If we don't, I supplement with my FAVORITE (but not great for you!) - Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, or we have soup again!
I also sometimes mix up a fruit salad in plain yogurt to go along with dinners. Also is good for breakfasts!
WEEK 1
Monday (Soup night): Soup (Red Pepper or Butternut Squash) and salad or sandwich (BLT with fake bacon).
Tuesday (Asian night): Shrimp stir-fry with rice or quinoa (recipe calls for chicken, but I do frozen shrimp).
Wednesday (American night): Chick’n (or other garden burger) patties with salad or cut veggies (usually pepper strips and baby tomatoes). Sometimes I do sweet potato fries if I swing by Trader Joe's!
Thursday (Italian night): Southwest Lasagna with steamed veggies. I am making this not in roll form, and probably adding some frozen red peppers or corn to the mix. McSexy hates when I try to sneak in veggies, but most of the time he doesn't notice!
Friday (Mexican night): Chik’n (or Chicken) Fajitas. Frozen peppers sauteed with chicken, thrown in a tortilla with black beans and cheese.
Saturday: Out to eat/pizza or leftovers.
Sunday: Out to eat/pizza or leftovers.
WEEK 2
Monday (Soup night): Soup and salad or sandwich (grilled cheese or creamed tuna).
Tuesday (Asian night): Honey glazed chicken stir-fry with rice or quinoa.
Wednesday (American night): Chick’n nuggets with soup (again, red pepper or butternut squash).
Thursday (Italian night): Calzones with steamed Italian veggies.
Friday (Mexican night): Black bean and cheese quesadillas.
Saturday: Out to eat/pizza or leftovers (or protein shake).
For breakfasts McSexy has a protein shake with berries, an egg sandwich (on whole wheat english muffin), or makes a veggie omelet for both of us. I usually have Fiber One cereal with berries, almond butter and banana english muffin sandwich, egg sandwich or oatmeal with protein powder and berries.
For lunches we eat leftovers, cheese or almond butter sandwiches, or cheese and crackers. Sometimes I pack soup, too. I usually pack fishies (major comfort food for me), a hard boiled egg, an apple/grapes, yogurt/cottage cheese, and cut up veggies (peppers, baby tomatoes and carrots). McSexy packs an extra protein bar for his snack. We also bring nuts (almonds mostly) and dried fruit to work early in the week in case we (or in my case McFatty and McBossy at school!) get hungry. I rarely eat it all, but I like having lots of food in case I get hungry!
I am constantly thinking about how many fruits and vegetables we are consuming each day and each week. McSexy doesn't monitor his veggie intake (one reason he would die without me, but that's another post), so I do and will adjust meals if he or I haven't had enough in the day or past couple days.
Hope this gives you some ideas! I'll let you know of any changes or substitutions or when we change it completely in the next few months!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Cinderella
This is me, age two or three, throwing a huge fit. I had a mullet. Don't judge me.One reason (of many) is to give Jason the best gift a man can ever receive - a child. I had the best dad in the world, and I secretly (shh, don't tell) hope that we have a little girl so that Jason can have the kind of relationship my dad and I have.
He doesn't want a girl because he says he can barely handle one.
(Me crying because my sister accidentally shaved Jason's head BALD one Christmas. I was obviously NOT a happy camper. Now why wouldn't Jason want more of MEEEEE?)This song by Steven Curtis Chapman just makes me want a little girl even more, though of course, I really just care that he/she is healthy. BUT, if I had a choice, which I don't, I would have a girl.
And this is what our kids will look like, btw (courtesy of makemebabies.com)
or
or
or
Hideous.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Woody Goes to the Vet
Woody is my Pit Bull/Mastiff mix. He lives with my mom and dad because they refused to give him to me when I got married and moved out. My mom's exact words -
"There will be a custody battle if you try to take him."
Um... okay. Won't press it.
Recently, Woody has had a string of misfortunes that has left him highly debilitated. His vertebrae are out of place from whiplash (my mom totaled my dad's car with Woody and Diesel inside - note to self, ALWAYS put the dogs in their car seats). He tore his CCL (cruciate ligament in his knee - it is like the ACL in humans), probably from Diesel regularly running into him like a linebacker. His front leg is out of wack and he has hip displasia in one hip and arthritis all over.
Poor baby.
Despite looking like Elmer Fudd/a beached manatee, Woody really is THE sweetest dog ever, and it is so hard to see him in pain and suffering.
Instead of surgery and more traditional treatment, my mom decided to take an exercise/physical therapy based approach, coupled with prolotherapy. There is this wonderful facility by where we live called Back on Track. They developed a whole course of therapy for Woody, including hydrotherapy. He had his first treatment today, and I'll let Woody tell you the rest.
First, they put this stupid vest on me. It was not down or chenille (the fabrics I traditionally wear). First indication that this was NOT going to be a good day.
Then, I had to go in this secret torture chamber box with a lock that I didn't know how to undo. That is right - it was difficult for even an expert baby-lock-buster like me to find an escape route. Bad omen number two.
They put me in the secret torture chamber box and turned on a secret waterfall. The box filled with water and I thought I was going to drown. It was very unsafe.
This is me near death in that secret torture chamber. Did I mention I almost drowned?
To make matters worse, they made me walk in the secret chamber. The bottom of that secret chamber moved! This also was not safe for my body. I was never meant for strenuous activity.
Finally, they let me out. My mom and dad don't know this, but I am NEVER going back there again.
"There will be a custody battle if you try to take him."
Um... okay. Won't press it.
Recently, Woody has had a string of misfortunes that has left him highly debilitated. His vertebrae are out of place from whiplash (my mom totaled my dad's car with Woody and Diesel inside - note to self, ALWAYS put the dogs in their car seats). He tore his CCL (cruciate ligament in his knee - it is like the ACL in humans), probably from Diesel regularly running into him like a linebacker. His front leg is out of wack and he has hip displasia in one hip and arthritis all over.
Poor baby.Despite looking like Elmer Fudd/a beached manatee, Woody really is THE sweetest dog ever, and it is so hard to see him in pain and suffering.
Instead of surgery and more traditional treatment, my mom decided to take an exercise/physical therapy based approach, coupled with prolotherapy. There is this wonderful facility by where we live called Back on Track. They developed a whole course of therapy for Woody, including hydrotherapy. He had his first treatment today, and I'll let Woody tell you the rest.
First, they put this stupid vest on me. It was not down or chenille (the fabrics I traditionally wear). First indication that this was NOT going to be a good day.
Then, I had to go in this secret torture chamber box with a lock that I didn't know how to undo. That is right - it was difficult for even an expert baby-lock-buster like me to find an escape route. Bad omen number two.
They put me in the secret torture chamber box and turned on a secret waterfall. The box filled with water and I thought I was going to drown. It was very unsafe.
This is me near death in that secret torture chamber. Did I mention I almost drowned?To make matters worse, they made me walk in the secret chamber. The bottom of that secret chamber moved! This also was not safe for my body. I was never meant for strenuous activity.
Finally, they let me out. My mom and dad don't know this, but I am NEVER going back there again.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Keeping Yourself Busy
We are in the middle of delightful 0-chem. More like McSexy is in the middle of o-chem, I am in the middle of being left alone several nights a week and at least one day out of the weekend.
Even though I am gregarious and love to be around my family and friends, most would be surprised to know that I am pretty introverted. I do not get my energy from people and have really no problem being alone for long periods of time - I almost always find things to do.
I know that as McSexy speeds towards medical school, I will find myself alone more and more often. Here is some things I do to keep myself busy (you can do them, too, if your husband is busy or in medical school!) I also did these when Jason was in Shanghai for work for two months:
1. Read. Check out books from the library and read, read, read. Parenting books, teaching books, and books for fun. I am also part of a teaching book club.
2. Working out. Working out will make you a sexy little thing for your husband, give you more energy, help you sleep better and make you happier (boosts endorphins, you know!)
3. Walk the dogs! Bonding with your fur babies, and exercise and fresh air to boot.
4. Cook and bake. Meal planning is a girl's best friend. As is baking. I bake and eat a few and then bring the rest to work so I don't become fatty McFatterson.
5. Blog. It is like an online journal of your life. I also like to peruse other people's blogs and get housekeeping, recipe, and frugal living ideas. It also is nice to keep up on my friends' lives through their blogging.
6. Volunteer. This is the MOST important one! Volunteer for kids, animals, the elderly. Find your passion and change your little part of the world.
7. Watch t.v. I know this sounds boring and lazy, but I am enjoying watching Heroes. We rent it from Blockbuster and have really gotten into it. I have a few shows that I like watching, and that helps pass the time.
8. Craft. Be crafty. Decorate your home, make some pillows, placemats, jams. Repaint some furniture. There are lots of fun, cheap home decorating ideas to keep you busy!
Ok. That is my two-cents. What do you do to keep yourself busy when your husband is away?
Even though I am gregarious and love to be around my family and friends, most would be surprised to know that I am pretty introverted. I do not get my energy from people and have really no problem being alone for long periods of time - I almost always find things to do.
I know that as McSexy speeds towards medical school, I will find myself alone more and more often. Here is some things I do to keep myself busy (you can do them, too, if your husband is busy or in medical school!) I also did these when Jason was in Shanghai for work for two months:
1. Read. Check out books from the library and read, read, read. Parenting books, teaching books, and books for fun. I am also part of a teaching book club.
2. Working out. Working out will make you a sexy little thing for your husband, give you more energy, help you sleep better and make you happier (boosts endorphins, you know!)
3. Walk the dogs! Bonding with your fur babies, and exercise and fresh air to boot.
4. Cook and bake. Meal planning is a girl's best friend. As is baking. I bake and eat a few and then bring the rest to work so I don't become fatty McFatterson.
5. Blog. It is like an online journal of your life. I also like to peruse other people's blogs and get housekeeping, recipe, and frugal living ideas. It also is nice to keep up on my friends' lives through their blogging.
6. Volunteer. This is the MOST important one! Volunteer for kids, animals, the elderly. Find your passion and change your little part of the world.
7. Watch t.v. I know this sounds boring and lazy, but I am enjoying watching Heroes. We rent it from Blockbuster and have really gotten into it. I have a few shows that I like watching, and that helps pass the time.
8. Craft. Be crafty. Decorate your home, make some pillows, placemats, jams. Repaint some furniture. There are lots of fun, cheap home decorating ideas to keep you busy!
Ok. That is my two-cents. What do you do to keep yourself busy when your husband is away?
Safety Alert
As if parents are freaked out enough already, HERE is a video I found about child safety hazards and item recalls. I knew about most of these already (so sad about the cute crib bumpers - we'll use a mesh one) but some were new to me (like the wipe warmer). It is surprising that companies could, in good conscience, even sell some of these items knowing that they have caused infant deaths, but I guess the bottom line is more important to some people than some stranger's baby. Hope this helps all you new moms or moms-to-be!
MSNBC video.
P.S. One of the preschoolers in my school (he'll be in my class next month) is really ill from a ruptured appendix. I know... really bad. He is in the hospital and they can't do surgery yet (I am assuming he is not stable enough). His mom teaches at my school and the husband and daughter are very involved in all we do and help out several times a week. We love this family!
Please pray that this munchkin is able to recover fully and quickly (he is at Doernbecher). He is quite the tough little man. Pray for his family - that they are able to find comfort and peace. Pray for the doctors, that they are able to ease his discomfort, stifle the infection, and operate successfully. Thanks all.
MSNBC video.
P.S. One of the preschoolers in my school (he'll be in my class next month) is really ill from a ruptured appendix. I know... really bad. He is in the hospital and they can't do surgery yet (I am assuming he is not stable enough). His mom teaches at my school and the husband and daughter are very involved in all we do and help out several times a week. We love this family!
Please pray that this munchkin is able to recover fully and quickly (he is at Doernbecher). He is quite the tough little man. Pray for his family - that they are able to find comfort and peace. Pray for the doctors, that they are able to ease his discomfort, stifle the infection, and operate successfully. Thanks all.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
10 Reasons to be Happy You're a Doctor
I found this the other day and it was fairly motivational for a person (McSexy) who is in the middle of the VERY long road to becoming a physician. Since I am sick and bored I thought I would post it. Have I already?
10 Reasons to be Happy You're a Doctor
10 Reasons to be Happy You're a Doctor
Baby Names of the Day
I am sick. First time of the school year (yea!), but sick nonetheless. Sadness.
Because I am sick doing nothing, I have plenty of time to think about things that are not relevant in my life right now. Like babies. And baby names.
My new favorite baby name is Noah. Boy name, obviously. It means rest, comfort. I like it because of the associations with animals. Like the Noah who built the ark. Jason likes it because the bad-ass dad from Heroes is named Noah.
I don't have trouble coming up with boy names, just girl names. Well, I have girl names, but Jason and I disagree on most girl names. He is SET on Hannah. I am not set on Hannah. I like it, but I am not freaking in love with it. At least we have a ton of time to decide since we aren't even pregnant yet.
Because I am sick doing nothing, I have plenty of time to think about things that are not relevant in my life right now. Like babies. And baby names.
My new favorite baby name is Noah. Boy name, obviously. It means rest, comfort. I like it because of the associations with animals. Like the Noah who built the ark. Jason likes it because the bad-ass dad from Heroes is named Noah.
I don't have trouble coming up with boy names, just girl names. Well, I have girl names, but Jason and I disagree on most girl names. He is SET on Hannah. I am not set on Hannah. I like it, but I am not freaking in love with it. At least we have a ton of time to decide since we aren't even pregnant yet.
If these walls could talk...
Conversation this morning.
McSexy: I finished my quiz yesterday night.
McDorky: Um... When?
McSexy: Yesterday night.
McDorky: You mean LAST night?
Pretty sure my husband talks like a Kinder.
McSexy: I finished my quiz yesterday night.
McDorky: Um... When?
McSexy: Yesterday night.
McDorky: You mean LAST night?
Pretty sure my husband talks like a Kinder.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Teaching Tidbit
A teacher in our school overheard one of the Kinders talking to her mom as she left school today. Her mom was packing her up, and she announced...
"Today...I fell asleep in school...and Ms. Aja turned and yelled in my face,
'WAKE UP!'"
WHAT?!
If you know my co-teacher Aja, you know that she is the most wonderful teacher on the planet and even while being bitten by Kinder fangs is able to keep her cool. She never loses it. Ever. Where this child got that idea that her teacher would wake her up by screaming in her face I'll never know.
Um... and she never fell asleep today. Or ever.
Kids are so weird.
"Today...I fell asleep in school...and Ms. Aja turned and yelled in my face,
'WAKE UP!'"WHAT?!
If you know my co-teacher Aja, you know that she is the most wonderful teacher on the planet and even while being bitten by Kinder fangs is able to keep her cool. She never loses it. Ever. Where this child got that idea that her teacher would wake her up by screaming in her face I'll never know.
Um... and she never fell asleep today. Or ever.
Kids are so weird.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Fall Fun
Fall is always a hard time for me. Not as hard as the rainy, cold days of winter, but the transition from bright, sunny, warm, long days to cold, wet and dark ones is difficult. I am definitely a sun baby and need my light fix. It isn't even the cold - it is just the dark and the rain. As long as I am cold but dry, I don't care. In Northwest, however, dry days are few and far between. This hurts my heart.
There are some routines and traditions I do for myself and my husband to make the transition into fall less traumatizing.
1. Starting mid-September, I purchase those cinnamon smelling pine cones for the front console table. They smell like fall (delicious) and make the whole house seem cozy and inviting! You can find them at JoAnns or Albertsons and a bunch of other stores, I am sure. I buy new ones every month through January or February to keep the house thoroughly scented.
2. Baking and cooking. I try to center my meal planning around fall-themed foods and try to make use of seasonal produce. Fall is a great time to reintroduce squash, sweet potatoes and pears into your family's meals. For breakfast I mix sweet potato or pumkin puree into my oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice! Yummy! I also start baking fall themed foods such as pumpkin muffins and gingerbread cake. Here is my super easy pumpkin muffin recipe:
Need:
1 yellow cake mix
Can of pumpkin (8 or 9 oz or whatever the small can is)
1/2 cup water
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Mix together, put into muffin pan with liners, and bake following directions on the back of the cake mix. EASY. (No eggs, milk, etc required!). You can also add walnuts or a handful of oatmeal to these to make them healthier.
3. Fall-scented candles. Yummy. I keep them all over and lit whenever I am home. Helps brighten the house and something about candle light is very comforting to me. My favorite things to do is light the candles in the guest bathroom, turn off the lights, and take a nice, hot bath before bed. Sometimes I can persuade Jason to put my towel in the dryer and give it to me when I get out of the tub. Talk about relaxing!
4. Dog costumes. I am not a big Halloween type of girl AT ALL. My parents used to be really into it and I would help my dad transform our house into a haunted mansion every fall complete with a graveyard, creaky gate, lights, bloody skeletons, scary music piped on loud speakers etc. I never dressed up as anything scary however...
Except maybe a BIG, SCARY BOILED ARTICHOKE!
I was an artichoke one year, a birthday party the next, Molly from the American Girl series another year, a doctor, etc. Never anything scary because even from a young age I felt like dressing up as a bloody anything glamorized and desensitized kids to evil and horror. Same reason I won't watch R-rated or any scary movies. Coraline was pushing it for me.
That being said, I do enjoy picking out costumes and dressing up the dogs every year.
McSpoiled has been Darth Vader, Superman, a cowboy, and one year, a pimp. (That was Jason's doing. Imagine trying to explain that to kids who come for candy).McNubbins has been a cowgirl and a princess. We tend to stick with the princess costume for her because it fits her perfectly and she looks like a little sparkly jewel walking around in her tutu. This year for McSpoiled, however, I was thinking
There are some routines and traditions I do for myself and my husband to make the transition into fall less traumatizing.
1. Starting mid-September, I purchase those cinnamon smelling pine cones for the front console table. They smell like fall (delicious) and make the whole house seem cozy and inviting! You can find them at JoAnns or Albertsons and a bunch of other stores, I am sure. I buy new ones every month through January or February to keep the house thoroughly scented.
2. Baking and cooking. I try to center my meal planning around fall-themed foods and try to make use of seasonal produce. Fall is a great time to reintroduce squash, sweet potatoes and pears into your family's meals. For breakfast I mix sweet potato or pumkin puree into my oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice! Yummy! I also start baking fall themed foods such as pumpkin muffins and gingerbread cake. Here is my super easy pumpkin muffin recipe:
Need:
1 yellow cake mix
Can of pumpkin (8 or 9 oz or whatever the small can is)
1/2 cup water
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Mix together, put into muffin pan with liners, and bake following directions on the back of the cake mix. EASY. (No eggs, milk, etc required!). You can also add walnuts or a handful of oatmeal to these to make them healthier.
3. Fall-scented candles. Yummy. I keep them all over and lit whenever I am home. Helps brighten the house and something about candle light is very comforting to me. My favorite things to do is light the candles in the guest bathroom, turn off the lights, and take a nice, hot bath before bed. Sometimes I can persuade Jason to put my towel in the dryer and give it to me when I get out of the tub. Talk about relaxing!
4. Dog costumes. I am not a big Halloween type of girl AT ALL. My parents used to be really into it and I would help my dad transform our house into a haunted mansion every fall complete with a graveyard, creaky gate, lights, bloody skeletons, scary music piped on loud speakers etc. I never dressed up as anything scary however...
Except maybe a BIG, SCARY BOILED ARTICHOKE!
I was an artichoke one year, a birthday party the next, Molly from the American Girl series another year, a doctor, etc. Never anything scary because even from a young age I felt like dressing up as a bloody anything glamorized and desensitized kids to evil and horror. Same reason I won't watch R-rated or any scary movies. Coraline was pushing it for me.
That being said, I do enjoy picking out costumes and dressing up the dogs every year.
McSpoiled has been Darth Vader, Superman, a cowboy, and one year, a pimp. (That was Jason's doing. Imagine trying to explain that to kids who come for candy).McNubbins has been a cowgirl and a princess. We tend to stick with the princess costume for her because it fits her perfectly and she looks like a little sparkly jewel walking around in her tutu. This year for McSpoiled, however, I was thinking
a turtle....
a cow...
or a lobster.
a cow...
or a lobster.What is your vote for a handsome man-baby such as he?
I'll let you know what we decide and post pictures of the actual costumes once we get them! Now I've got to run. I need to workout bad. I am Fatty McFatterson. Then my co-teacher Aja and I are going to our students' soccer game in FG. Ta ta!
I'll let you know what we decide and post pictures of the actual costumes once we get them! Now I've got to run. I need to workout bad. I am Fatty McFatterson. Then my co-teacher Aja and I are going to our students' soccer game in FG. Ta ta!
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