It's Been Awhile

Hey there - happy hump day!  We needed a little breather last week - wedding, baby shower, family gatherings and much needed naps - but we're back!  This post is coming to you from America's Finest City. :-)  Google it. 

Patrick had to come down for a class on base this week, so Tripp & I decided to join him, hang out and breathe in some of the fresh ocean air that I miss.  The view from his pack 'n play:

Poor kid.

Yesterday, we enjoyed lunch al fresco at Burger Lounge while Daddy was in class.  It was the veggie burger of my DREAMS:

It doesn't look like much but it was fanfreakingtastic.  Quinoa, lots of veggies, a little cheese....yes please.

I feel like every restaurant's veggie burgers are so different....along with all the frozen varieties you can get at the grocery store.  It inspired me to try and make my own at home next week.  This could be a great experiment that rocks my world on the first try....or a work in progress for the next 6 months.  We'll see! 

I love experimenting in the kitchen.  Usually, I will see a recipe on one of a few blogs I stalk read and get inspiration from that.  I tend to not follow recipes exactly, but instead I give it my own little twist.  Its been a while since I came up with a new recipe that was entirely my own, though, and I'm excited to give you a few new ones. 

SO - let's hear it.  What recipes would you like?  Do you have a favorite dish but feel guilty every time you eat it because it has an entire day's worth of calories?  A favorite snack that you always have but you're hungry 20 minutes afterward because it lacks staying power?  Let me know!  I'd love to compile a list to start working on. 

In the meantime, here are some recipes I've recently come across that you may enjoy.  I haven't tried all of them, but they're from reputable sources. ;-)

For the sweet tooth:

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Crazy Woman Chocolate Blender Pudding 
Black Bean Brownies

Breakfast:

Quinoa Granola
Vegan Cinnamon Buns
Baked Oatmeal

Snacks:

Amazeballs
my homemade protein bars
Avocado Fries

Lunch/Dinner/leftover schmorgesborg:

Quinoa Broccoli Casserole  <--- I'm scary excited to make this next week
Falafel
Low Yolk Egg Salad

We're off to enjoy the sunshine!  Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone. :-)

xo
Shaina

Time Out

Morning!  How was everyone’s weekend?  It was a little cray cray over here.  I’m not joking when I say last week and this week might be the craziest two weeks of my life to date.  I’m completely aware that adding children to the mix will bring things to a whole new level, so I’m sure this is good training.

Dove had some good words of wisdom for me when I unwrapped a chocolate yesterday:

So I did J

It felt SO good to just relax last night knowing that anything left on my to-do list could wait until today.  Sometimes you just need to take a time out!

On a completely separate note, I am so excited for Patrick to come home so I can fire up my kitchen skills again!  He pretty much loves anything I put in front of him, and having your creativity appreciated makes it that much more fun.  Until then, eats for one (well, two I guess):

spinach, tomato and goat cheese omelette

I can't take credit here: jerk veggie enchiladas from Cha Cha Chicken - AMAZING

salad w/ baby spinach, strawberries, walnuts, honey goat cheese, champagne viniagrette + white grapefruit & my favorite lara bar

strawberry trick: drizzle with a *small* amount of balsamic vinegar and let sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes before eating.  It brings out the sweetness and leaves the strawberries with a syrupy coating without the calories of sugar.

We’re going for a nice long walk before work today.  Have a fantastic Monday everyone!

xo Shaina

Something to think about: One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. - Plato

Holy Third Trimester!

Morning everyone!  Happy Monday to ya.  I hope your weekend was amazing and that no one has a case of the Monday’s. 

source

Ever have a craving for the kid classic PB&J but talk yourself out of it because “carbs are bad?”  (Guilty!) Well, after my Indian food fiasco, I’ll never talk myself out of a craving again.  Enter the whole wheat wrap:

PB&J really isn’t that bad for you if you’re not using bleached white bread and half a jar of jelly whose first ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. ;-)  They can be tricky to find sometimes, but most health food stores have more natural options.  You just have to get into the habit of reading the nutritional stats.  I added half a banana and some cinnamon to mine (and actually used almond butter this time):

rolled it up and devoured.

Do you know what time it is?

Haha sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Onto more important stuff: Baby Anderson! J  I know that’s why you’re here – its okay.  I’ve come to terms with the fact that the baby will now be way more interesting to everyone than I’ll ever be. In a last ditch effort to promote myself instead, here's a little timeline for you: 

11 weeks

20 weeks

24 weeks

27 weeks

We had our routine appointment scheduled for Friday, which really worked out because I was hit by the plague Thursday night and wanted to know that everything was okay.  Doctor’s report: we’re rolling into the third trimester, everything is fantastic and we’re moving to 2 week appointments!  The baby actually measured a lot closer to its gestational age this time.  When I saw on the printout that the baby’s head measured 7.15cm, I came home and pulled out my tape measure…and just about fell over.  Already?!

Ouch haha.

I know many of you are epidural advocates and will tell me why I should get one until you’re blue in the face.  I absolutely respect that and your choices.  After discussing all of the different birth plan options and past medical experiences/complications, Patrick and I have decided that, while we are open to whatever needs to happen for a healthy baby and Mama, our first choice is to welcome Baby Anderson into the world as naturally as possible. 

*This post is not meant to start a debate about childbirth options.  We ask that you please respect our choices as parents in the same way that we respect all of yours.* J

What's new lately:

-My belly button is almost gone.  I'm not convinced my innie will actually be outted, but what was once a swimming pool is now more like a dimple haha. 
-Still having crazy dreams.  The latest:  Miranda Lambert and I were best friends.  While awesome, I don't think its very likely.
-My appetite came back - and I'm sure you can see why!  We're popping out like nobody's business.  The other day I counted how many people asked me when I was due - I got to 7.  I guess there's no denying it?  That's okay.  I'd rather it be an obvious human baby than a possible food baby.
-Total weight gain so far: 20 pounds. 
-Energy levels are still good.  I'm hoping this holds out for the move in a few weeks! 

I'm off to run some errands and get my pearly whites polished.  Have a wonderful day everyone! <3 Shaina

We Have A Visitor!

Mama’s here!

I picked Mom up from the airport yesterday and have never laughed so hard all day long.  This will be a fun 3 months. J  We ran around doing errands and getting her settled into her new abode.

Lobsta Truck was closed when we got there! 

So we improvised: 

Auntie’s Fry Bread.  Little rounds of fried dough topped with various deliciousness – we rolled with the veggie (so as to pretend we were being healthy).  Black beans, corn, squash, tomatoes and lettuce.  Don’t mind my dessert slider with honey and sugar haha.

I hopped back on the healthy wagon for breakfast this morning:  

Steel cut oatmeal with banana, walnuts, raisins and cinnamon + red raspberry leaf tea.   Lunch is packed and ready to go:

Leftover brussel sprouts and a wrap with lettuce/tomato/cucumber/avocado/veganaise/nutritional yeast + a lara bar, some trail mix and an orange for snackage.  I think I'll stop by the WF juice bar this morning too....I feel a scratchy throat coming on. 

I’m off to work for the day while Mom explores her surroundings.  I can’t believe this week is almost over already! 

xo Shaina

Fooooood

Hey hey!  How’s the day going so far?  We started out early over here.  Got a walk in this morning, followed by an amazing stretch sesh here at home.  I love feeling noodly.  Breakfast was a quick and easy favorite....that I completely forgot to take a picture of before devouring it.  Whoops.

Yogurt, fruit of the day (I rolled with banana), flax seed, raw cashews, raw walnuts, raisins, cinnamon and a little bit of fiber cereal for extra crunch. Usually I use steel cut oats that have been soaked overnight, but I had to improvise this morning. Either way, much healthier than syrup-coated granola. 

I love this because you can change it up any way you want.  We started calling it Deliciousness a few years ago and the name stuck.  This is actually one of Patrick's favorite things to make (he doesn't cook - he only prepares haha....temperature + Patrick = pizza delivery for dinner) so I have a feeling I'll be living on this right after the baby is born. :-) He's also a fantastic smoothie man.

More recent eats:

A completely random schmorgesborg: romaine topped with avocado, tomato, 2 eggs, goat gouda, and a little bit of light dressing – before I drowned it in hot sauce. What can I say? Mama likes spicy and Daddy is Mexican - this baby is a little jalapeño.  :-)  The tortilla has almond butter and raisins rolled up in there – dessert? 

Snack attack: goat gouda, pita crackers, carrots and an almond butter/nutella mixture.

Last night’s dinner: sweet potato with a little bit of earth balance and a sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon + roasted brussel sprouts (boil for 3 minutes, cut in half, toss in olive oil/balsalmic/salt/pepper/rosemary, bake at 350⁰ for 30 min)

My personal on-the-go favorite!  This one was banana, strawberry, blueberry, pineapple, applesauce, protein powder, almond butter, chocolate chips, OJ and almond milk.  Totally random, yet totally delicious.  Sorry – can’t give the amounts of ingredients just yet.  I was inspired yesterday – should I start a smoothie truck?!  Smoothies on wheels = Smooth Moves….haha.  It’s an idea.

Speaking of food trucks, Mom flies in today and I’m welcoming her to LA with Lobsta Truck!  Food trucks are not something they have anywhere near her on the East Coast, so I thought it would be a fun “locals” welcome. 

In other news: we got the townhouse!  Waiting on the lease to get emailed to me, but its ours!  AND we hit the 3rd trimester today.  Baby update coming out after my next doctor's appointment - I promise.

Off to the airport in a bit!  xo Shaina

This is Happening

Today doesn’t feel like Tuesday to me.  I literally walked around all day thinking it was Monday.  That happen to anyone else?

I’m really excited about how productive the day has been!  I made our first two major baby purchases:

I’ve got 2 weeks to go until I reach the 3^rd trimester, so its definitely a little earlier than some people start to shop, but when I saw the stroller on Craig’s List, I decided to go check it out.  I kind of felt like I was stealing from this couple because they had it priced so amazingly…but who am I to argue?  We decided to go the used route because we'll probably have another baby pretty quickly and will be turning right around to buy a double.  Yikes.  $$

I also had a 20% off coupon for Babies ‘R Us that expired tomorrow, so I figured I should use it on a big ticket item that we were going to need anyway.  $60 savings?  I’ll take it!  

Pumps are one of those tricky items.  Obviously very personal, so it’s not something you normally see given as a gift.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been milked before so how do I know which one I want?  After doing way too much research, reading consumer reports, and – most importantly – asking other Moms, I decided on the Medela Pump In Style.  I know this is something I’m going to need for the long haul so that I can use it on subsequent children, so it was definitely worth the investment. 

In my opinion, it hurts a little less to start shopping early and spread out the big purchases.  For those of you that don’t have kids yet, here’s a little math for you:

Stroller (brand new) - $375

Pump - $300

Crib - $800

Dresser/Changing Table - $800

Car Seat - $200

Baby Monitor - $150

And we haven’t even started talking about diapers, clothes, blankets, bottles….. babies = expensive, but worth every penny.  J

Now it’s time to bite into this delicious creation:

Grilled cheese with whole wheat flax bread, organic swiss and sun-dried tomatoes marinated in olive oil.  Yum.

xo Shaina