What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?

I have nothing to blog about so I thought I would blog about...

FOOD!

Here are two fantastic recipes.  For reals.

The first one is a little different...but not too different.  Good different.  And Jason wigged and said, "Wow, this is so unique and yummy.  It's like restaurant good."  He did his "happy yummy food dance" as he was eating it.  Yeah.  He has one of those.  :)  And I agree.  And seriously it is EASY and FAST.  Two things I love in cooking.

It's a twist on the boring old quesadilla.  A recipe by the brilliant Heidi from 101cookbooks.com.

SOURCE

It involves an egg, minimal cheese, corn tortillas, fried capers...and happy taste buds. 
Find the recipe here: 101cookbooks Quesadilla Recipe

I made it just as she said but sprinkled a tiny bit of mozzarella along with the parmesan.  I opted to use diced chives and I did sour cream with out the lemon since I'm not a huge lemon fan.  Give it a try!   :)

And for dessert?
Because someone chose to wear some sort of yummy coconut smelling lotion in church I had a craving for coconut cake.  I LOVE Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes.  Yummy yum yum.  Jason's aunt made them once and I've been hooked since then.  These have a yummy cream cheese frosting that just makes it oh so good.  I made a whole batch this last weekend and sent more than half with Jason to school for his fellow teachers.  :)  They were a hit!

Find the recipe here: Ina's Coconut Cupcakes

SOURCE

 

 

24 Weeks

Happy 24 weeks to me...or is it 25?  According to my original due date...it's 24 weeks.  According to the fancy pants ultra sound appt I had I'm 25 weeks.  That just seems like cheating though...to skip a whole week like that.  So, I'm sticking with the first date.  It's just easier.  Any how.  I'm in month 6 and I feel kinda cool saying that.  :)

Well, I can't believe that it's been a whole month since my last pregnancy update/picture.  Crazy pants.  Where is the time going?

So, being pregnant means that you have a lot of weird conversations with people you don't know.  I've never found myself to be a good "small talk with strangers" person...unless they're over 80 and really cute.  Kinda have a thing for old people.  Anyways, "the bump" attracts attention...and I get it.  But some of the things people say are just....funny.  So are you ready?  Here we go!

--"Are you expecting or did you just gain weight?"  Yeah, for real.  He said that.  I was 13 weeks.  I was sorta in awe.  Especially since my bump was quite small at that point and the last time I saw this patient was A.YEAR.AGO.  Hello?  Bold I tell you.  Real bold.

--"My wife's water broke both times when she was sitting on the toilet."    Wow, thank you.  Thank you complete stranger for that lovely picture. 

--"My wife was in labor for three days and she ripped."  Oh.my.gosh.I.don't.care.GROSS! Shudder.

--"Congratulations on the pregnancy.  My husband and I are going to start trying this year..."   Insert awkward silence and me looking at her with the, "oh yes you did just say that outloud" expression.  To which she pauses silently, looking horrified that she just told a complete stranger that she basically plans to have lots of sex this coming year.  And then she fumbles over her words and mutters "Have a nice day," leaving me standing there in Beverly's with a handful of felted wool and a rather blank expression on my face.  Nice.  I wish her the best though!  ;)

Awesome right?!?  hahaha.  It makes for very entertaining errands that's for sure!  :) 

So some stats and happs as of late:
-Weight gain: 14 lbs.
-Baby weight: 1 1/2 lbs. (apparently I can't blame the baby's weight on MY weight gain. Hmph)
-Baby Length: almost a foot long.
-Everything...well, just about everything gives me wicked heart burn/acid reflux.  I know...I'm not even to the "huge as a whale" stage where you'd expect it.  I'm not a medicine taker at all but Tums and I are BFF's currently (and those are SO not classified as meds...more like yummy candy miracle heartburn destroyer pills)
-I'm tired.  I mean, I'm good until about 7pm and then I'm done.  I just want to lay on the couch and do nothing.  So yes, the energy is back and the 2nd trimester is worlds better then the 1st buuuuuut...I wouldn't go as far as saying I'm like my old pre-preggo self.

The babe is kicking plenty.  Sometimes I'll go a decently long stretch without feeling much and then for like an hour straight I'm a human punching bag.  I love it though.  I could sit and feel those kicks, punches, and rolls all day.  I try to take a half hour or so each day to do something quiet and focus on this little one moving in me.  I kinda feel like it's our "bonding time".  :)

I'm quickly approaching the 3rd trimester where I apparently go to the doctor every 2 WEEKS!  What?  Crazy.  So much for work!  hehe.  Oh well.  Hearing the baby's heartbeat is waaaaay more fun then being at work.  :)

And that's it.   24 weeks of baby bliss.

We haven't done a THING as far as baby preparation...except buy the crib...oh and we opened a baby registry and put like 5 things in it.  Is that ok?  haha.  I told Jason that at 30 weeks we have to get our butt into gear.  No more procrastinating.  :)  I also have a blog post in the works where I ask you seasoned moms about your fave products and what not.  I've never done this before...I need ya'lls wisdom! 

Welp, that's all!  Have a great week!

Week in Review

This week...

• Was a short week of work.  It was glorious and once again the week flew by.  Yay.
• I actually DID something baby related/productive this week.  We started a registry at Target.  Um yeah.  There are a whole lotta things for babies.  We are no where near done.  The registry pretty much just has some swaddling blankets, some cloth diapers, and the stroller I want so far.  It's a start though.  Eventually we'll probably have to go IN to the store huh?  Hmmm.  Target and I used to be BFF's and then since moving to San Francisco...not so much.  Too crazy and I get tired of being rammed with a cart 3-5 times a Target trip.  :)
• It's Friiiiiiiiiiiday.  Just had to get that out of my system.
• Next week is my last week at my gym.  Boo-hoo-hoo.  I've been doing the spin bike/weights for the last couple of months.  Even the spin bike is starting to get uncomfortable now.  Leaning that far forward makes it hard to breath but sitting straight up puts too much pressure on my butt.  I've transitioned to the recumbent bike but...meh.  It's just not a very good workout for some reason.  So, the pool it is.  Oye.  Jason's all excited because he LOVES to swim.  Me, not so much.  I used to sink like a rock but with this extra junk in my trunk I might not have that problem any more.  :)
• So a couple of months back I tried 2 x's to call my internet company and lower our basic internet rate. TWICE.  Both times they rejected me...I even threatened to switch to a different company.  We were paying $70/mth for internet only.  Then I posted a blog post...where in I mentioned ways to cut back on bills blah blah blah.  I declared my annoyance for said company.  Then I got a comment.  FROM THE COMPANY telling me to call them for a lower rate.  Creepy factor x 10.  Then I quickly took the post off because I was weirded out.  THEN Jason said, "That's awesome.  Blogs are powerful things.  You should call them, maybe they'll actually lower it this time."  So, it took me a couple of weeks but I finally made that call.  I told the guy on the phone that the company commented on my blog and he laughed.  Long story short.  The rate is lower.  We were paying $70/mth and I just made a payment for $20 this month.  Yeah.  Amazing.  Soooooo....hello soap box blog.  Apparently you are useful for more then just life updates.  :)

 Have a great weekend everyone!!!  <3

Baby Update and...the Crockpot?

So, thanks for the prayers peeps.

All is well in baby land.

I talked to my doctor yesterday on the phone and she said she wasn't too worried and felt like I will be just fine.  My body seems to be back to normal and all is hunky dory.  :)

Praise the Lord.

Baby is doing well...kicking up a storm.  Love.

So yeah.

Just thought I'd give an update on THAT.  :)

On a completely different topic.  I mean...for real different.

A question.

So, first off, I cannot make myself love the crockpot.  I've tried.  Like really tried.  It's a great concept.  Throw it all together, turn it on, walk away.  BOOM!  Food!  I feel like no matter what I cook it all tastes the same.

Alright, the actual question...

I've made chili in it like 10 times probably.  I decided to venture out and try these baby back ribs in the crock pot for V-Day.  And I kid you not...it tasted slightly like the chili.  For real.  I don't know if it's my imagination and I'm already prejudice, conjuring up preconceived ideas about what it's going to taste like or if it's in FACT possible that the chili taste has soaked into my crockpot.  Jason even noticed it.

So.  Has this happened to you?  I mean, we wash the thing all the time...obviously.  I'm just curious.  Because I WANT to like the crockpot.  But right now...I'm thinking about donating it to the thrift store.  Seriously.  Or just never making anything but chili in it, haha. 

Oh Pregnancy.

Well, today is a much anticipated third day off to the weekend.  President's Day.  I woke up, took Jason to school, and then with out going into too much TMI basically had something happen that caused me to call my doctor's office...which of course is closed because it's...President's Day.  Riiiight.  Figures.  So I spoke to the triage emergency lady who was a doll.  She calmed my nerves, said everything is probably fine, asked me questions like...Do you have cramping? "No."  Is the baby moving? "Yes."  blah blah blah.  She said if it gets worse then I'll have to come into the emergency room.  I felt okay, hung up the phone, and then burst into tears because what.if.it's.NOT.okay??? Apparently SFSU doesn't have today off and so Jason had classes to teach, leaving me home alone to deal with my emotions...not a very good thing sometimes.  I sent a text to him filling him in and then just sat and stared at the wall.

"Surrender."

"God is gracious."

Two things that I have been repeating to myself (and God has been teaching me) through out this whole pregnancy.  Really, things have been pretty easy.  But there's fear.  Lots of fear and I don't know why I can't seem to shake it.  I don't know if I'd be feeling this way no matter what or if it's because my first pregnancy was a miscarriage.  Not sure.  But it's there and it drives me bonkers.

So, I'm on "pelvic rest" for a week which doesn't mean much except no exercising, lifting anything, and etc.  Basically just take it extra easy and report to my doctor by the end of the week.

We definitely would love prayer...that my little episode was a one time thing, that the babes is okay, and that I would above all surrender...and know that God is gracious.  Oh, and that I would actually REST.  It's been about 4 hours and I already feel like scrubbing the house and doing the dishes. 

Anyways, so that's that.

On a happier note.  I actually did a project that I finished from beginning to end in less than 24 hours.  Yay me.  It's a baby mobile.  And I'm kinda obsessed.

 My photo quality/ability is terrible but you get the idea.  So darn cute.  awe.  It's made out of felted wool.

Anyways, happy President's Day friends.  Hope you're enjoying a day off :)

Week in Review

This week in bullets...

• The week has fuh-lown by.  Not sure why.  I'm not complaining.  I hate the weeks where you're at work and all, "Phew this week is going by so slow. I can't believe it's only Wednesday."  Then your co-worker goes, "Dude, it's Monday."  Crap.
• I have my monthly baby appt today.  I don't like them.  Have I told you this before?  Yeah, I get nervous before each one.  I'm always afraid they're going to find something going wrong.  That's where my mind goes.  That being said, I can feel our little man kicking up a storm.  I think he likes my hot cocoa I drink each morning.  :)  
• Speaking of appt I think I'm doing the glucose test today.  Everyone wigs about how nasty it is.  I'm super curious to give it a whirl.  Knowing me I'll totally like it.  I sorta dig that sicky-sweet thing. 
• And, speaking of hot cocoa (the bullet before the last one...in case you got lost hehe)  Trader Joe's finally got their act together :) and started selling individual hot cocoa packs.  Or, "normal" hot cocoa (don't really care if it's individual or not).  They've had all kinds of thick, rich stuff but I've just been wanting the normal stuff.  It's GOOD to!  Let.me.tell.you.
• Jason and I are very much drawn to the "natural world".  I.e. medicine, food, and etc.  Now don't get me wrong.  If I have an infection (i.e. bladder) I try the natural route and if it doesn't work...I take an antibiotic.  But honestly the natural route often DOES work sooooo, yeah.  Anyways, we're going to give a few natural soap products out from Etsy a try.  Jason will be using a bamboo charcoal soap for his face, me a toner for my wacky combination skin (both from Herbivore Botanicals), and also a lip gloss (from Fig and Yarrow).  On the lip gloss...I've been thinking.  You practically eat the stuff if you think about it.  Maybe I should spend a little more time looking into the ingredients that I'm chowing down on?  :)  I'll let you know what we think.
• Almost every patient (clarify that, FEMALE patient) who came in to pick up their glasses and contacts yesterday commented on how much bigger my belly was in just the one week since they'd seen me.  I was thinking the exact same thing to be honest.  I feel like in the last 4 days it's popped straight out very quickly.  Please don't leave stretch marks, please don't leave stretch marks.  :)

Welp, that's all.  Happy weekend everyone!!!  <3

20 Things: To my Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

Especially to the incredibly, fantastic man I call my husband.

In honor of such a day, here are 20 things that I just LoooooOOoooOOve about my husband.  There are more.  But I don't want to bore you with a cheese fest.  So yes, you're welcome.

20. Your glasses.  I love a man in glasses and you work it...let.me.tell.you.
19. I love you but also just plain LIKE you more and more every day.  Imagine us in 50 years.  Sheesh. 
18. Your tan skin.  Okay, I'm vain.  I dig the tan though.
17. Your smile.  It's kinda border line smouldering.  Gets me every time.
16.  Our weird inside jokes that I'm pretty sure everyone else would think is a) not p.c. and b) slightly inappropriate. 
15. Your big muscly shoulders.
14. Your laugh.  It's incredibly contagious.
13.  Your amazing ability to push all my buttons and drive my bonkers...all in a matter of 10 seconds. (Yes, I even love that...usually.  :)  )
12.  The way you take care of me and desire to provide.
11.  Your quirky hobbies.  You're seriously super unique and the opposite of boring.  I love it.
10.  The way you come alive when you're abroad in other cultures.
9.  The fact that you're a teacher and it's totally your thing.  There are other careers that may make more money but I'm proud that you worked hard for your goal and have attained it.
8.  Your perfectionism.  Let's face it.  I ain't got an OUNCE of that.  Our little family needs you, hehe.  :)
7.  Your love for food.  How you totally wig out when I make a yummy dinner or dessert.  It's nice to feel appreciated.
6.  Your verbal skills.  You talk so freely about feelings and life.  There's always something to talk about with you and you are always so free in expressing your feelings for me.
5.  Your love for the outdoors, backpacking, and God's creation.
4.  How I try to talk you out of going to church once a month and you always fight me and say we need to go.  :)  It's true.  We need to.  hehe.
3. You always initiate holding my hand.  Even after 8 years of dating/marriage.
2. Your unbelievable amount of kindness.  Seriously, it puts me to shame. 
1. And the number ONE reason....

Your love for the Lord.  And how it overflows and I receive the benefits of a man rooted on his God. 

Happy Valentine's Day Jason!  You the best.  You and your glasses, muscles, and tan skin.  :)