A fun weekend + Meal Planning 4

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Laura B

Normally on weekends we don’t do a whole lot (I know lame but hey we are tired), but that was not the case this weekend. We really crammed it all in! On Friday we went to a Crab Feed that we usually go to every year to support a local High School. This year there was 700 people and 1 crazy toddler. Yep, no sitter so SJ came too and surprisingly he was so well behaved. I am pretty sure we used up all our good ju-ju for the next few months on toddler behavior out in public. Saturday night was lunch out and dinner at a friends house. Sunday was cleaning house, meal planning, grocery shopping, and a good-bye party held at our house for my sister in law. She is a super smarty pants and scored an unreal job right out of nursing school at UCLA, so she will be leaving the Bay Area this week for that. We will miss her terribly.

A little after dinner birthday/ good-bye cake for my sister in law. Can you tell SJ loves cake?

So without further ado…. meal planning week 4! Can you believe I made it 4 weeks?? I can’t. I must say though I am starting to see the savings on our grocery bill big time and I feel a lot healthier since I have been planning mostly healthy and gluten free dinners.

On my new Brim Papery meal planner

Sunday: Steak + Lobster + Asparagus + my Roasted Red Potatoes (recipe below)

Since it was a good bye dinner for my sister in law, my hubby cooked it up. He is a master of the grill, I am a lucky lady. We BBQ’ed everything but the red potatoes

Monday: Ground turkey fried rice

This was a MAJOR win. So freaking good AND toddler approved! SJ gobbled it up faster than you can say “are you done with that?”. I based it off of this recipe, except I swapped out the red bell peppers for carrots and peas.

Tuesday: Shrimp Kabobs (shrimp, bell pepper, onion, zucchini, and mushrooms in a teriyaki like sauce) + quinoa + spiced sweet potatoes

Wednesday: Pulled BBQ chicken + salad + sweet potato chips

I bought this BBQ pulled chicken at Costco this weekend but I have also made it myself in the crock pot before. The hubs will have it on bread as a sandwich while I opt for just the meat.

Thursday: Brushetta chicken + salad + rice

I have never made this before and have thought up the recipe in my head. If it is good, I will make sure to share on here.

Friday: Night off or I picked up a pack of spinach tortellini’s at Trader Joe’s we have as a back up.

Recipe for roasted red potatoes:

Cut up red potatoes into small squares. Put them in a bowl. Then put in a liberal dose of dijon mustard (sorry I don’t measure, but maybe like 3 or 4 squeezes should do it), olive oil (again don’t measure- a few clugs), salt, pepper, red onion, and either fresh garlic or garlic powder. Once all mixed together spread on a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40-45 minutes or until crispy on the outside, soft in the inside.

Turkey fried rice

Things we are lovin’

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Laura B

I thought I would start a little edition called “things we are lovin'”. You know a little of this, a little of that.

Here are a few things that are working for us that we are LOVIN’ right now.

1. SJ is a typical boy and pees through his diaper ALL the dang time at night. I didn’t want to do the song and dance of buying 8 million brands of diapers trying to find one that didn’t leak so we went straight for this and it is working like a dream boat. Speaking of diapers, we use Honest company and we love, love, love. SJ was getting all sorts of itchy down there with his sensitive skin, so we switched him to these and haven’t looked back. Despite our night thing, they are extremely absorbent.

2. Acure skincare products. I get these at Whole Foods and you guys, it is NOT that expensive! I have a history with bad skin and this is the first thing in a long time that is working for me. I don’t have to cover my face with foundation to hide all the break outs. I still have yet to try other parts of the line, but right now I am using this at night with the toner and night cream.

3. This Kids Superfood. AMAZING. SJ actually begs we more it. Begs me people. It is loaded with fruits and veggies, organic, non-GMO, all the good stuff and none of the bad. It is like a little extra insurance to make you feel like a good parent. I don’t know about you, but my heart literally sings every time SJ eats a vegetable and I am singing the praises of this superfood which we call “superman juice” in our house. I have put it in smoothies before, but on the daily I just mix it with water and occasionally add a tiny bit of apple juice.

4. This instant download meal and grocery planner for ONLY $3 at Brim Papery. A pretty, fun addition to my weekly meal plans.

Any awesome finds that you are dying to share?

What do you make for dinner + Meal Planning 3

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Laura B

This past Sunday my best friend from high school came to visit me with her two gorgeous kids. It was so nice to spend time catching up with her. I love how even though we don’t talk very often we can still pick right back up where we left off. She is pretty awesome. The kids got along well except for at the end of the visit when my evil dog from my last post bit her sweet little girl. I felt so bad, I even cried. Let me know if you know anyone who wants a naughty dog…..

Anyways, my favorite question to ask people these days is what they make for dinner. I want to know what people are really cooking for dinner. Not what they pin on pinterest or recipes that have with a million ingredients. I am talking about what are you whipping up on a Monday night after a long day. If it wasn’t obvious I am a little obsessed with food. Right after I had SJ, when family would come to visit and help, all I really wanted was for them to make or teach me to make one dish. I knew that now that I had a family, I was going to be cooking a lot and I wanted new ideas.

So naturally I asked my dear friend this same question and I got something magical. A gluten free (her son is intolerant so this is her domain now) mexican casserole. It basically consists of pre-made Trader Joe’s goodness, which is amazing in itself.

Can you tell my food photography is getting a little better?

Lauri’s Mexican Casserole:

Ingredients:

Corn Tortillas

Trader Joe’s salsa verde

Trader Joe’s premade asada chicken

Black beans

Frozen spinach

Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom of a pan and then top it with a layer of salsa verde (maybe 1/2 a cup). Next cover it with a few corn tortillas, topped with a little more salsa. Next layer with chopped asada chicken, spinach, black beans, and a little cheese. Continue layering and once done pour a healthy dose of cheese on the top. I also added some sliced olives. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

I topped mine with sliced avocado but you could add sour cream if you like that stuff.

And for the rest of the week this is what is on the menu:

Sunday: Steak, veggies, sweet potatoes, and wild rice (slight adjustment to the above)

Monday: Lauri’s Mexican Casserole

Tuesday: Red beans and rice

Wednesday: Baked lemon chicken, veggies, quinoa (Baking chicken with some fresh squeezed lemon, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In the same dish adding zucchini and broccoli to bake along side it).

Thursday: Turkey tacos again, tortellinis, or something easy. It is just me and SJ this night.

Friday: We are going to the annual San Mateo crab feed. It is delicious and oh so fun. Now we just need to find a babysitter still….

So, what does everyone else make for dinner? Any easy favorites?

A rough night + Meal Planning 2

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Laura B

This week has not been without it’s challenges. It started out lovely with the 3 day weekend which included an overnight trip to Carmel and a toddler sleepover. However, come Tuesday night, all hell broke loose.

I was trying to keep up my meal planning and was hard at work cooking salmon and salad. My toddler was running around and playing as normal. After I cooked dinner, I decided that SJ and I were going to sit down at the table and have a civilized dinner unlike what we usually do (eat standing, in front of the TV, or while running around like a banshee). SJ was being quite good and I was pleased at my mothering skills. No biggie I just came home from work, whipped up this fabulous dinner, and now me and my well behaved toddler are sitting at the table having a lovely conversation while we eat our veggies. Yep, spoke too soon. I get up to go get SJ his water that I assume he left on the floor in the living room when I saw a horrific scene.

Our guinea pig cage was knocked over onto the living room carpet, completely in pieces, with no sign of guinea and a toddler shoe in the middle of the shambled cage. There was poop, hay, food EVERYWHERE. The only thing I could muster was repeatedly saying, “oh no, OH NO, OOOHHH NOOOOO”. SJ came running over and stood at the foot of entrance with an “oh shit I forgot I did that” look on his face.

Meanwhile, one of our dogs who is not friendly at all was chasing the guinea pig around and I couldn’t get him to stop. The only thing I could do at that point was cry. I stood behind our TV stand and just cried. SJ came over, touched my arm with complete innocence and compassion in his eyes and signaled for me to pick him up with both hands in the air. He gave me a huge hug and a kiss and I was filled with the magic that children possess. How do they know? The fact that children know when to be calm and when to offer love and support just completely puts me at awe. They are so innocent and loving and it is just hands down the ultimate reason as to why we reproduce. Their hearts are so full of love because that is all they know.

Once I got the crazy dog out of the living room, I noticed large clumps of hair and blood stains on the carpet. The guinea pig was huddled under the dog stairs we have scared shitless. That damn dog attacked him.

I called my husband hysterical and he came home and cleaned up the mess and examined the guinea pig. He is okay but I don’t know that he will ever forgive us. So now we are trying to figure out what to do with the vicious dog, as this is not the first time he has attacked. He bites me and my husband all the time and he has even bitten SJ a couple times. It is an incredibly hard position to be in, since we are so passionate about giving homeless pets a home (hence how at one point we had 4 dogs and now have 3 + said guinea pig).

I guess at the end of the day it was just another case of me taking on a little too much. I try so hard to come home and then pick up the role of the perfect housewife and mother and it is just HARD. It is hard to do it all and I don’t think humans are designed to do it.

Needless to say, last night we ditched the meal plan and got Panda Express instead. I am not giving up on it, I am just recognizing when it is okay to stray from the plan and take a break.

At any rate, here is what the plan for this week was.

Sunday: This was when we had the toddler sleep over. Our single dad friend came over with his twins and we ordered pizza.

Monday: Chili

Tuesday: Salmon (baked with olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika)

Wednesday: Planned: Turkey Taco Salad Actual: Take out

* Turkey Taco Salad is one of my top 3 recipes. Super easy, quick, and delicious

Thursday: Baked Chicken with potatoes and veggies (recipe coming soon)

Friday: Night off or my hubs might BBQ steaks.

Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Laura B

Valentine’s Day has never really been my jam. I have always felt that it is a way to make single people feel inadequate and uncomfortable and a way for couples to put too much pressure on themselves for yet another “holiday”. A day filled with a mirage of Facebook “look how loved I am- I got flowers” posts. A brag day if you will.

My husband and I have been together for almost ten years and married for almost 3. We have been through a lot of ups and quite a few downs. We have moved 5 times and bought our first home. We have adopted 5 dogs, 3 of which are still with us. We have welcomed one amazingly awesome child into this world. We have had career changes, a failed business, struggles, and joy.

We don’t have the worlds most romantic relationship, that’s just not who we are. What we do have is a pretty darn strong partnership. The foundation of this beautiful and crazy life we have built together is our marriage. Sometimes it is hard to remember to nurture and care for our marriage just as much as all the things we have built on top of it. A marriage is not without flaws but our hope is that we don’t develop cracks large enough to cause what we built to fall.

We still make each other laugh and inspire one another. We also do things to drive each other nuts. I mother too much and he has amnesia as to where the garbage can is (hello garbage on the counter top right above the garbage can!!). It’s cool though. People are not flawless which is why a marriage is not flawless.

Marriage is really hard and a lot of constant work to not become strangers passing in the night. A friend once asked me years ago what my secret was to maintaining a long term relationship. My answer was this: “be in a relationship with someone who is your best friend”.

I guess to me, Valentine’s Day is not about giving gifts or the pressure of a special date. However I have learned that it shouldn’t be ignored. It should be a reminder that there is a foundation that also needs to be nurtured, maybe not today, but let’s not ignore it. Plus it is fun to celebrate all these silly holidays with children. Some how children make everything special and fun and can erase the cynic in just about anyone.

We will be having a quiet dinner tonight at home watching SJ open his gift (stickers from the dollar store). I bought my husband a card to tell him that I appreciate him today and every day. Then once SJ goes to sleep, we will rent a movie and relax. How is everyone else spending their Valentine’s Day?

Meal Planning (Intro + menus)

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Laura B

I have recently taken up meal planning. I am one of those people that spends a small fortune at the grocery store. I found myself going every other day, filling up my cart with crap when all I really came for was an avocado, and all the sudden I check out and I am paying $65. I would call my husband on my way home from work and we would go back and forth about what to drum up for dinner. It was all becoming exhausting. I know meal planning is nothing new and I have recently found some blogger inspiration to get me going but so far I have been pleased with the process. Yesterday was a little rough, SJ literally screamed all morning for no apparent reason (toddlers). My husband is sick and we got in an argument in the ethnic food aisle of Whole Foods because he wanted to leave and I wanted to finish my list (can I PLEASE get the carob chips??). So yeah, it’s not always perfect and can be an investment in your time one day a week, but I still say it’s a win.

I am hoping I can pull it together and start making this a weekly feature on the blog. I am hoping it will also hold me more accountable to continue to do this.

A few quick notes for how I am finding success.

1. I only plan Sunday – Friday because those are my “work nights” where I like to be at home and prep food. It is easier for the whole family. Saturdays we don’t always eat out, but we don’t always cook a meal. Sometimes we go out for a late lunch and just eat mac and cheese for dinner – it’s a crap shoot.

2. I usually take one night off during the week (Fridays) because since I am a working out of the home mom, I am exhausted and need a break. Sometimes we get take out, sometimes we have quesadillas. We try not to stress.

3. I try and do a lot of the prep work the night before so it’s ready to go when I get home for work. This also keeps me on track because you know, I already chopped the carrots and lettuce and we can’t let that effort go to waste!

4. I try to keep things well balanced and easy. A veg, a grain, a protein – tried and true.

5. Make a list. A grocery list that is. Find your recipes, check your cabinets and fridge and then make your trip to the store organized and relatively painless. I also find that my cart is now filled with veggies and meats instead of crap and more crap. I am not aimlessly walking the aisles and leave the store thinking, “did I even get anything to make for dinner?”

So this is what we are making this week.

Sunday: Pot roast with potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery.

*Tip for success: make sure to slow cook it on low for the full 8-10 hours. It is completely necessary for a good roast.

Monday: BBQ chicken wraps with roasted sweet potatoes.

I had some chicken that was going to go bad, so Saturday night I through it in the crock pot with some BBQ sauce and bam- pulled BBQ chicken. I want to use this up so I am going to put it in a tortilla with some chopped lettuce, red onion, tomato, avocado, and a little BBQ sauce or salad dressing. I made roasted sweet potatoes for the first time a week ago and SJ couldn’t get enough so I will be making this as a side dish. (recipe below)

Tuesday: Cilantro lime shrimp with rice and avocado salad

Wednesday: Asian turkey lettuce wraps

Thursday: Baked chicken Parmesan with rice and salad.

This is a Laura recipe and easy, bread chicken breasts, bake at 375 degrees, add tomato sauce (I like Arribatta) put a little bit of cheddar or mozzarella on top until melted

Friday: Break night! I have some cheese tortellini in the fridge as a back up.

I tried to make some baked goods last night for the week. We had some wins and some loses. I will share my win, and keep working on my loses. Stay tuned.

Blueberry bran muffins I made these before when my Dad came into town and they are delicious! They are also low fat and my toddler loves them. Winning.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes:

Chop sweet potatoes into small squares. Put on a baking sheet and add a little olive oil, red onion, garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Bake at 400 degrees until roasted and delicious.

The Longest 2 Weeks

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Laura B

When you are trying, hoping, and praying to be pregnant, the 2 weeks between conception and your (hopefully) missed period is the longest two weeks. The days drag on, a week seems endless as your hope and anticipation rises and rises. Then when your monthly gift does show up after those 2 weeks of pent up joy, 2 weeks of “maybe I am” thinking, 2 weeks of life altering excitement- it is devastating. It is also exhausting and quite frankly sad. Not to mention the fact that premenstrual symptoms mirror my pregnancy symptoms- starving, sore breasts, cravings, and did I mention really hungry?

Truth be told, when I got pregnant with SJ we were not actively trying. We had been married 4 months and I had just overcome a few health issues. I had gained a lot of weight because of said health issues and was not feeling sexy nor ready to carry a baby for 9 months. We went to Las Vegas for my husbands business trip and maybe it was just the relaxation of it all, or the relief of starting to feel like a human being again, but my body was ready and a baby was conceived. Since we were not actively trying it was quite a surprise when I found out I was pregnant 4 weeks later. I think for a week before I took the test, I knew deep down that there was a baby growing inside of me but I was unprepared. I was not ready to rent my body out for a growing human and all that comes with it. I woke up on a Monday morning, ready to start a new diet and work out regime to lose the 30 pounds I had gained over the summer and I couldn’t put it off any longer, I had to take a test. My intuition was correct as I stared at the 2 solid lines.

Isn’t it a weird feeling to then have to go on with life as usual? Pretend to the rest of the world that you didn’t just find out completely life altering news? I called my doctor’s office and they informed we that I couldn’t come in until I was 7 weeks. 7 weeks, what? That was like another 3-4 weeks away. I don’t know how to be pregnant, I don’t know what to do. The busy and uncompassionate lady on the phone quickly ran through a few quick do’s and don’ts after I shakily reminded her that I have never been pregnant and I don’t know what to do. I then drove to my husbands’ work and told him that it looked like I was going to continue to be fat for another 9 months. Seriously that is how I told him. He was in disbelief asking if I was sure 80 times, so I went home and took another test to prove it to him. We were both a little shocked.

Now I know what to expect. I want a redo where I get excited and overjoyed when I see those 2 lines. Where I run to my husbands office and we embrace in joy. Where I study my growing belly and can’t wipe the smile off my face. The thought of having another SJ growing inside me just makes me overflow with excitement.

But somehow now month after month, I get a monthly gift instead. I try to find soulince in the fact that I am following God’s plan for me but I am getting frustrate and sad too. Something that came so easily last time, that I took for granted and didn’t appreciate one bit feels like a punishment now.

I promise to not take pregnancy for granted. I promise to enjoy every day and except it with grace and absolute undeniable joy. Please lord give me one more chance.

I sit, wait, and pray to give SJ a sibling that is close in age to him so he can have the bond I share with my younger sister of 2 1/2 years. There is nothing better than that relationship and I so desperately hope that SJ can have it too.

SJ- 18 months

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Laura B

Another late SJ update post but here are the awesome things SJ has been up to.

Stats: 26 1/2 pounds and 33 1/2 inches (although I think they messed up you seem taller than that).

You are so busy. Like I mean you are really busy. You never slow down. The other day the daycare asked me what time you start to slow down and I said you don’t. You literally go nonstop until I put you in the crib and turn out the lights. At least you are a great sleeper. 10-12 hours straight a night. Mommy thanks you.

You climb onto everything. The toilets, chairs to the kitchen table, anything and everything. You make incredibly nervous but you have no fear. We are starting to see lots of bumps and bruises. We took you to the ER last night after you climbed into a wet bathtub, slipped, and cut your lip pretty bad. You are such a trooper though. We sat there for 10 minutes, you weren’t crying, you weren’t even bleeding anymore. You told us (not in words but in mannerism) that you were fine and we could go home. I woke up through out the night to check on you but you were indeed fine. You don’t worry, you don’t dwell, you just move on and leave things in the past – something we could all learn from you.

You are talking a lot and it is so exciting. You are up to maybe 15-20 words. I think you are a genius. A few of your favorite words: mama, dada (or as you have started saying: da-do-da-do-daadooo), hot, sit, this, that, okay, no. You just started saying “up” and “ball” yesterday. Yes I am a proud mama. You also really like to mimic any noise people make and you are so proud when you can do it too. This results in us making a lot of inappropriate noises in public but we don’t care, you are happy.

You are a champion in the eating department. Some new and old favorites – pesto pasta, cherry tomatoes, mandarin oranges (only if you get to peel it), bananas, string cheese, manchego cheese, turkey tacos, green beans, zucchini, avocado, cheddar cheese, and yogurt. I could keep going on but basically you are a very good eater.

You have such an amazing imagination. When we moved into our house the previous owners had build a playhouse on the side of the house. We filled it with kitchen supplies for Christmas and I sit and have dinner parties with you and am in awe of how well you can use your imagination. We pretend drink tea, do dishes, make pasta, use salt and pepper, etc. You are getting good at cleaning up too. You also play with tools too. I tell people I am making you into the worldest greatest husband some day. You can multitask like a boss.

Your smile just melts my soul. I am trying to take more videos so I can always remember how amazing and lovely you are at this age.

Hello 2014

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Laura B

Living life as carefree and happy as SJ in 2014

Last year I wrote this post. It was the first year I made a list of goals to be completed in the year and I have to say I was able to complete most of them (all but 2). I was going to write a recap of how it went but I decided we will move onward and upward! I have never been much of a resolution gal, I typically go with the flow as much as possible and never write things down. I have an “I’ll get it all done eventually” attitude. Once I had SJ and major mom brain sunk in (seriously I can barely remember what day of the week it is most of the time), I realized that things would have to change. I found that it actually is nice to set goals for yourself and I also found it to be amazingly helpful to build schedules. Something that young Laura would have never done. This being said, I have set a few “goals” for myself for 2014.

1. Be happy. This must sound like a silly goal but I found that at the end of last year I was becoming slightly bitter and angry. Most of this having to do with my commute if you were able to read my last few posts. I also was so busy I barely had time to breath. These past 3 weeks SJ’s daycare has been shut down so I have been working from home or taking time off and I have been feeling AMAZING. I am trying to make some life changes based on these learnings and hopefully I will be able to have a more work/life balance. SJ is growing up so fast and I don’t want to miss too much of it.

2. Continue Optimizing my Health I don’t want to be one of those people who says “2014 is going to be the year I work out and lose 10 lbs” and then only go to the gym for a month. Last year I made the goal to work out more and that was one of the goal’s I reached with flying colors. I use the stair climber we have in our house and I try to run on the weekends. I would love to start doing more toning and maybe even sign up for an organized run of some sort (1/2 marathon, 5K, etc). We also starting cooking at home almost every night and that helps make me feel much better. We eat mostly organic but I would love to start working on eating even healthier. Last year I lost over 30 lbs, I still have more to go but I would rather focus on being the healthiest best version of myself.

3. Me time Last year I bought a sewing machine. I am dying to learn how to sew and I vow to take a class and get on it. I need a positive hobby that is fun and allows for me to do something for myself. I also still need to learn how to use my camera (goal from last year that I didn’t meet).

4. Allow others to help me I have always been one of those people who feels like I need to do everything myself, without any help and perfectly. Most of this has to do with my feeling of not wanting to inconvenience people more than it does with perfection. I have been doing everything by myself for a very long time but now I have more on my plate than every before and it is okay to share the load. This will also help with goal 1. Letting go = happiness. I was reading a piece of New Year’s advice from Giada De Laurentiis, and she said “don’t be afraid to give other’s tasks to get things done”. She was referring to party planning. We are currently planning a wedding shower for my brother-in-law and his fiance and I am trying to put this in to effect. Normally when people offer to help or ask to do things I always “no no don’t worry I will do it” because I want it to be perfect but in reality I end up totally stressed out and not enjoying myself. This year I am letting everyone help and it feels glorious.

5. Upgrade and Blog more One of my goals last year was to start this blog and I am amazed I was able to keep it going all year. This year I want to give myself more time to blog. I have so many things I want to write about that are always swirling up in my head. I also want to finally get this blog branded, designed, and out for readers to see. Right now it is pretty much just me, myself, and I who is reading it. ha!

Stress less, live more, smile every day. That is my motto for 2014.

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Laura B

One of my fondest Christmas Eve memories from when I was a kid was sitting around the dinner table with my family deciding on a “wake up” time for Christmas morning. I have 3 older sisters who were in college when my little sister and I were at the height of the Santa excitement age. Naturally my little sister and I wanted to get up at 5 or 6 am while my older sisters fought for a 10 am wake up time. We usually landed somewhere in the middle with 7 or 8 am.

My little sister and I still woke up at 5 or 6 Christmas morning. We first went down to see what Santa brought while our excitement just rose and rose. Then we waited in one of our rooms staring at the clock waiting for it to hit the agreed upon time. When the time finally came, we were so hyped up on adrenaline we would run through the house, fly open everyone’s doors and DEMAND that they get up right now. Everyone complained but I am betting it is one of their fondest memories too.

I can’t wait until my son is at an age where the excitement of Santa is enough to not be able to sleep at night. For now I will be excited for him. The presents are wrapped and the cookies are being baked.

Merry Christmas Eve to you all. The little sleep we will get tonight will be totally worth it.

Better with Baby Blog

A blog by Laura Barrett