Even with Lactaid, my body is having a really hard time digesting anything with even a hint of dairy in it. Things made near a cow seem to make me sick.
ICE CREAM
milk
butter
bread
s'mores poptarts
CHEESE
yogurt
cereal
anything with milk/butter/cream in it
Sometimes I don't know how I'm supposed to survive this extreme dietary restriction. You guys, this is how vegans CHOOSE to live. I don't get it.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The year of the dragon
Saturday night I partied it up Chinese-style in SLC with Emilie and Yao. Kev got home from working in time to stay with Aspen while she napped so I flew the coop for a night out sans mini-me.
There was a lot of amazing food (um, hello? REAL CHINESE FOOD?! Yes, please) and entertainment and I'm so glad I was able to go. Yao was helping with the event, so he kept sneaking tasty treats to us in excess. No complaining here.
Okay, I do have one complaint. We were expecting some of the young men in Emilie's ward to perform a traditional line dance. Turns out it was a misunderstanding because what they were really preparing was a traditional lion dance. So there we were, waiting for a bunch of Chinese-American teenagers to dance all country... and instead they came out in a lion costume to collect red envelopes of money for good luck. Oh well.
It's always fun to spend time with friends, and even more fun to eat good food and to celebrate different cultures. All without having to change any diapers, clean up spilled food or hush a tired toddler.
Happy Lunar New Year!
There was a lot of amazing food (um, hello? REAL CHINESE FOOD?! Yes, please) and entertainment and I'm so glad I was able to go. Yao was helping with the event, so he kept sneaking tasty treats to us in excess. No complaining here.Okay, I do have one complaint. We were expecting some of the young men in Emilie's ward to perform a traditional line dance. Turns out it was a misunderstanding because what they were really preparing was a traditional lion dance. So there we were, waiting for a bunch of Chinese-American teenagers to dance all country... and instead they came out in a lion costume to collect red envelopes of money for good luck. Oh well.
It's always fun to spend time with friends, and even more fun to eat good food and to celebrate different cultures. All without having to change any diapers, clean up spilled food or hush a tired toddler.Happy Lunar New Year!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Penny for your thoughts, Month 18
Penny Poo Pants-
Who the heck are you?! Your personality is coming out larger than life itself. You are funny and mean and happy and kind and climb-y and kissy and huggy and lovey.
You have been repeating more of your friends' names lately, and I love it. You CONSTANTLY ask for "Ni" and "KKKKK," who I know you love more than me... but seriously... every day you ask me if you can play with them (Zjani, Makayla and Konnor). You also learned to say "Emmy" and it's probably the cutest of all the names you say. Sometimes you walk to the front door saying "Emmy" and "Yao" so we take advantage of them being our neighbors and bug them all the time. It's nice.
This month you also started nursey in full-force. Mama and Dada took turns spending some time in there with you, and then we all realized you're fine to be without us. So Mama abandoned you on your second visit. The leaders don't mind that you started a little early since you usually have a great time playing bubbles, eating snacks, and learning awesome songs. You quickly picked up the rhyme they teach for getting everyone settled and ready for the lesson. It's adorable to watch you move your hands and arms for it.
As you continue growing, we're settling into an afternoon-nap-routine. Which is alright if you keep letting Mama shower while you watch SuperWhy! in the mornings. Then, depending on the day, we get to go to the gym, or Discovery Time (Library) or to the playgroup some of our friends host at the church. We still visit the Treehouse Museum often, and now that the weather is rainy we meet friends at the mall playground too. But maybe we should back up and talk about SuperWhy! for a minute.
YOU. ARE. OBSESSED. It's on at 9am weekday mornings, and while you eat your breakfast beforehand, you ask for Why. When you're watching it, you climb onto the TV stand and hit the screen, yelling WHY! WHY! WHY! We usually take a TV break while we run errands, play with friends, eat lunch, nap, etc... and then after dinner you start asking for Why again. So I plug you into the 4 episodes we have on DVD and you're the happiest little girl in the world. I think you plan to marry Why when you grow up. That $5 DVD was the best money I've ever spent on a babysitter (I'm kidding. I usually watch it with you).
Something NOT so adorable is your new habit of hitting. You smacked me in the face during playgroup and completely took me off guard. But you are learning that after you hit, you can say "HI!" and then hug to make it all better. At least you think you're making it all better. Hopefully we can keep working on that.
We're also continually working on what you eat. While Mama is still "sneaking" healthy elements into your meals, I'm also just trying new things. You loved salsa and chips, which is great because Mama is going to count that as a vegetable. It was also great when you ate taco soup. Are you trying to tell us you like Mexican? Because we can start eating at Costa Vida all the time if you want.
My little Penny, Mama and Dada love you so much. We love your hugs and your laugh and your loud and insistent calls for "MADDIEEEEEEEE!" every morning when you get up. It so so great to hear you talk so much and ask for the things you need/want. Let's keep that up so the tantrums can stop, mmmk?
Loves,
Mama
Who the heck are you?! Your personality is coming out larger than life itself. You are funny and mean and happy and kind and climb-y and kissy and huggy and lovey.
You have been repeating more of your friends' names lately, and I love it. You CONSTANTLY ask for "Ni" and "KKKKK," who I know you love more than me... but seriously... every day you ask me if you can play with them (Zjani, Makayla and Konnor). You also learned to say "Emmy" and it's probably the cutest of all the names you say. Sometimes you walk to the front door saying "Emmy" and "Yao" so we take advantage of them being our neighbors and bug them all the time. It's nice.
This month you also started nursey in full-force. Mama and Dada took turns spending some time in there with you, and then we all realized you're fine to be without us. So Mama abandoned you on your second visit. The leaders don't mind that you started a little early since you usually have a great time playing bubbles, eating snacks, and learning awesome songs. You quickly picked up the rhyme they teach for getting everyone settled and ready for the lesson. It's adorable to watch you move your hands and arms for it.As you continue growing, we're settling into an afternoon-nap-routine. Which is alright if you keep letting Mama shower while you watch SuperWhy! in the mornings. Then, depending on the day, we get to go to the gym, or Discovery Time (Library) or to the playgroup some of our friends host at the church. We still visit the Treehouse Museum often, and now that the weather is rainy we meet friends at the mall playground too. But maybe we should back up and talk about SuperWhy! for a minute.
YOU. ARE. OBSESSED. It's on at 9am weekday mornings, and while you eat your breakfast beforehand, you ask for Why. When you're watching it, you climb onto the TV stand and hit the screen, yelling WHY! WHY! WHY! We usually take a TV break while we run errands, play with friends, eat lunch, nap, etc... and then after dinner you start asking for Why again. So I plug you into the 4 episodes we have on DVD and you're the happiest little girl in the world. I think you plan to marry Why when you grow up. That $5 DVD was the best money I've ever spent on a babysitter (I'm kidding. I usually watch it with you).Something NOT so adorable is your new habit of hitting. You smacked me in the face during playgroup and completely took me off guard. But you are learning that after you hit, you can say "HI!" and then hug to make it all better. At least you think you're making it all better. Hopefully we can keep working on that.
We're also continually working on what you eat. While Mama is still "sneaking" healthy elements into your meals, I'm also just trying new things. You loved salsa and chips, which is great because Mama is going to count that as a vegetable. It was also great when you ate taco soup. Are you trying to tell us you like Mexican? Because we can start eating at Costa Vida all the time if you want.My little Penny, Mama and Dada love you so much. We love your hugs and your laugh and your loud and insistent calls for "MADDIEEEEEEEE!" every morning when you get up. It so so great to hear you talk so much and ask for the things you need/want. Let's keep that up so the tantrums can stop, mmmk?
Loves,
Mama
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Let that be a lesson to ya.
Once a week I teach an early-morning Yoga class. Due to recent snow, I made sure to get up half an hour earlier than usual so I could clear my car and drive as slowly as necessary to get to the gym. The roads were actually great so I had more than enough time to get ready and head out.
I'm required to get to the gym 15 minutes prior to the class start time so I can set up and welcome participants. On this particular snowy morning, no one had arrived at the start time, so the fitness attendant and I watched the clock until the requisite time had passed and we could cancel.
Ten minutes finally ticked by so we started to pack up the sound equipment and extra mats. I joked that as soon as I got both snow boots on and laced, someone would waltz in and expect to start some Yoga.
Which is exactly what happened.
The participant thought we were kidding when the attendant and I explained classes cannot be taught to just one person due to safety protocol. The participant said she'd made the effort to come, so she really wanted me to teach the class regardless. I told her I couldn't do it, and also told her I'd made an effort to show up as well, so it's a bummer for me to turn around and go home too.
What I really wanted to tell her was I made an effort to show up on time. There's nothing more exhausting than getting up at 5am for nothing.
I'm always surprised at how late some people show up for a class. They skip warm ups and jump right into the Yoga practice with seemingly no awareness of their body and its needs for a safe workout. When I expressed this frustration to the fitness attendant, she suggested I start shutting the door once class begins. They're automatically locked, and that should send a message to participants that we need to start on time to allow ourselves adequate warm up, work out, and cool down.
What would you do if you showed up late for a class and found yourself locked out? Would you learn to come on time, or would you just be pissed? The policy at one of my gyms is to prohibit attendance if class is more than five minutes underway, which seems more than reasonable to me. But I fear people won't learn anything about time management; they'll just bang on the door until someone lets them in (which would be even more distracting than someone coming in late).
I'm just not sure what to do...
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Out with the old, in with the new.
Picnik is closing in April, and until then all their premium features are available for free use. I'm sad about their transition to something with Google, but I'm having fun using the new features for photo editing.Believe it or not, but I didn't touch Aspen's eyes in this photo. They're slightly out of focus, but that is their original brightness and color.
Lucky girl.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Random Recipe
On Saturday, Kev, Aspen and I attended a potluck party with some friends and enjoyed a lot of different and delicious foods. I was so excited that I only had to make one dish, but I got to eat like, 7 others too. Best way to enjoy dinner.
I was brave and made a meal that was new to me, but thankfully it turned out quite edible. And my cookies were a hit too (even though they didn't look enough like poop for my liking).
Broccoli and Shrimp Quinoa
1/2 C sun dried tomatoes
1.5 C vegetable/chicken broth or stock
1 C finely chopped onion
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
1/4 C lemon juice
1 C quinoa
2 C broccoli florets
10 medium shrimp (I used frozen, and more than 10)
-Heat some olive oil in a large skillet and cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes.
-Remove the shrimp and add the onion and garlic to the skillet, cooking until soft.
-Add lemon juice, broth and quinoa. Bring to a boil and simmer (covered) for 15 minutes.
-Add broccoli, tomatoes and shrimp. Simmer for 5 minutes.
I adapted this from the organic cookbook Amazon was giving away free for Kindle users (thanks Mandi for the hookup) and just used what I had. Which happens to be NOT organic. But hey, I still used vegetables. And even though Kev doesn't love seafood, he still ate this. Score!
I was brave and made a meal that was new to me, but thankfully it turned out quite edible. And my cookies were a hit too (even though they didn't look enough like poop for my liking).
Broccoli and Shrimp Quinoa
1/2 C sun dried tomatoes
1.5 C vegetable/chicken broth or stock
1 C finely chopped onion
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
1/4 C lemon juice
1 C quinoa
2 C broccoli florets
10 medium shrimp (I used frozen, and more than 10)
-Heat some olive oil in a large skillet and cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes.
-Remove the shrimp and add the onion and garlic to the skillet, cooking until soft.
-Add lemon juice, broth and quinoa. Bring to a boil and simmer (covered) for 15 minutes.
-Add broccoli, tomatoes and shrimp. Simmer for 5 minutes.
I adapted this from the organic cookbook Amazon was giving away free for Kindle users (thanks Mandi for the hookup) and just used what I had. Which happens to be NOT organic. But hey, I still used vegetables. And even though Kev doesn't love seafood, he still ate this. Score!
Friday, January 20, 2012
We're nothing if not classy.
Thanks to the great windstorm of 2011, the Pink House is getting a brand-spanking-new roof. When the insurance appraiser came to see our house, he was like, um yeah. They stopped making these shingles during the war.
So, thank you insurance company. We're looking forward to being done with this project like you wouldn't believe.
After the first day of roof demo, Craig's team of workers had made a hefty pile of debris surrounding the house. This is the view out the back door... so Maddie had to pee in the front yard like a true white trash pet.
All the old shingles were cleaned up as of Sunday night, so we just have this gorgeous industrial addition to the front of the house for now. Once the wet weather subsides, work will resume and the shingles will be cut and affixed like a shiny new hat for our home.
And since Kev has been able to do some of the work with Craig, he's actually making a little money that we can put toward the deductible. That makes the hefty sum a little easier to swallow.
Yea for a new roof!
So, thank you insurance company. We're looking forward to being done with this project like you wouldn't believe.
After the first day of roof demo, Craig's team of workers had made a hefty pile of debris surrounding the house. This is the view out the back door... so Maddie had to pee in the front yard like a true white trash pet.
All the old shingles were cleaned up as of Sunday night, so we just have this gorgeous industrial addition to the front of the house for now. Once the wet weather subsides, work will resume and the shingles will be cut and affixed like a shiny new hat for our home.And since Kev has been able to do some of the work with Craig, he's actually making a little money that we can put toward the deductible. That makes the hefty sum a little easier to swallow.
Yea for a new roof!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
That one time we went to the library AND the Treehouse Museum in the same day.
Aspen's first watercolor will soon be available for purchase in various-sized reproductions.Tuesday, January 17, 2012
We're so glad you've come.
When I crawl back into bed at 7:30am, I know I only have a few minutes. I almost never fall asleep again because I'm just waiting for Kev's alarm to go off, or for Aspen's morning cries to carry from her room to mine. Regardless, I burrow under the covers and hope for a few minutes of rest.
When I finally hear Aspen awake and ready to start her routine, I find myself missing the days when she was young enough to get in bed with me, nurse for a few minutes, and then doze off again. Who would have thought that I'd long for last winter, when night-time sleep was interrupted, but morning cuddles were plentiful?
Despite Kev's protests, some mornings I crawl into Aspen's crib with her for some hugs. I play with her hair while she jabbers about what I can only assume were eventful dreams, or her plans for the day. Sometimes she uses me as a launching pad, sometimes she uses me as a pillow. I'm happy to wrap up in blankets that smell like baby soap and lotion and enjoy some quiet moments before we hit the ground running.
We're in a tough phase right now, with Aspen asserting more independence every day. But with those developments, she's also experiencing more frustration as she discovers what she still doesn't know. The tantrums can be exhausting for all of us, so I will try to remember the sweetness of our relationship to carry me through. I'll remember the feel of her fingers wrapped around one of mine. The weight of her head on my shoulder while her body drapes over my chest. I'll remember how I longed for this daughter of mine.
And now she is here.
When I finally hear Aspen awake and ready to start her routine, I find myself missing the days when she was young enough to get in bed with me, nurse for a few minutes, and then doze off again. Who would have thought that I'd long for last winter, when night-time sleep was interrupted, but morning cuddles were plentiful?
Despite Kev's protests, some mornings I crawl into Aspen's crib with her for some hugs. I play with her hair while she jabbers about what I can only assume were eventful dreams, or her plans for the day. Sometimes she uses me as a launching pad, sometimes she uses me as a pillow. I'm happy to wrap up in blankets that smell like baby soap and lotion and enjoy some quiet moments before we hit the ground running.
We're in a tough phase right now, with Aspen asserting more independence every day. But with those developments, she's also experiencing more frustration as she discovers what she still doesn't know. The tantrums can be exhausting for all of us, so I will try to remember the sweetness of our relationship to carry me through. I'll remember the feel of her fingers wrapped around one of mine. The weight of her head on my shoulder while her body drapes over my chest. I'll remember how I longed for this daughter of mine.
And now she is here.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Oh, isn't this a good time?
It's so great when Daddy is home alone with Aspen and can teach her new things.
Kev felt really badly when he realized he'd accidentally showed her how to get these drawers open... she would have figured it out eventually, but her ignorance was nice while it lasted.
(Thanks to Aunt JuJu for this cuuuute top!)
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
READ!!
Disclosure: I have been compensated for my participation in this BlogHer Book Club discussion, but the opinions expressed are 100% my own.
I've never believed in dieting. Mostly because I don't have the will-power to limit myself to certain foods, or certain quantities of food. Who would do that to themselves, anyway?!
In all seriousness, the book "Why Women Need Fat," by William Lassek and Steven Gaulin, has been reinforcing my belief that dieting is NOT the way to successfully lose and maintain weight. Yes, you can change what you eat permanently and change how you live, but dieting alone is probably not going to work.
The doctors/authors have studied the body and targeted the hypothalamus as the culprit behind diet failures. The hypothalamus is in charge of all the body's operations, and when we decide to diet, it doesn't care one little bit about our intentions. Instead, it goes into survival mode. The body will probably shed pounds for a few weeks, but eventually the hypothalamus will put a stop to it, which is why many people plateau with weight loss even after stepping up the exercise routine. The hypothalamus works hard to conserve what calories are being consumed since it believes there is no longer enough food available to the body.
Some of the scientific and nutrition talk is boring to me, but I am interested by the facts that support my long-held theory that dieting is a waste of time. You can't fight the weight your body believes you need to be. Lassek and Gaulin theorize that there is a set weight that each body is born with. Once the individual reaches that set weight, they can stay there for as long as it's necessary. Meaning when women get pregnant, the set weight is altered. And after pregnancy, the set weight may be redefined to allow the woman to successfully have future pregnancies with healthy babies. Now, if you'd like to know why so many people gain back more weight than they lost (while dieting) you'll have to read this book yourself.
Seriously. You can borrow my copy!
I've never believed in dieting. Mostly because I don't have the will-power to limit myself to certain foods, or certain quantities of food. Who would do that to themselves, anyway?!
In all seriousness, the book "Why Women Need Fat," by William Lassek and Steven Gaulin, has been reinforcing my belief that dieting is NOT the way to successfully lose and maintain weight. Yes, you can change what you eat permanently and change how you live, but dieting alone is probably not going to work.
The doctors/authors have studied the body and targeted the hypothalamus as the culprit behind diet failures. The hypothalamus is in charge of all the body's operations, and when we decide to diet, it doesn't care one little bit about our intentions. Instead, it goes into survival mode. The body will probably shed pounds for a few weeks, but eventually the hypothalamus will put a stop to it, which is why many people plateau with weight loss even after stepping up the exercise routine. The hypothalamus works hard to conserve what calories are being consumed since it believes there is no longer enough food available to the body.
Some of the scientific and nutrition talk is boring to me, but I am interested by the facts that support my long-held theory that dieting is a waste of time. You can't fight the weight your body believes you need to be. Lassek and Gaulin theorize that there is a set weight that each body is born with. Once the individual reaches that set weight, they can stay there for as long as it's necessary. Meaning when women get pregnant, the set weight is altered. And after pregnancy, the set weight may be redefined to allow the woman to successfully have future pregnancies with healthy babies. Now, if you'd like to know why so many people gain back more weight than they lost (while dieting) you'll have to read this book yourself.
Seriously. You can borrow my copy!
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