Monday, February 1, 2010

Preparing for D-Day: Breastfeeding Essentials - part 1



Rockwell Style by Udder Covers



Jones Style by Udder Covers

My favorite nursing cover is hands down made by Udder Covers. Although the name is a little funny, the products are awesome! So many nursing covers have baby prints and childish themes - but these have chic, upscale mama appeal. :)

product features:

-rigid neckline gives you direct eye contact with baby.
-fabrics are made of 100% breathable cotton.
-stainless steel d-rings allow fully adjustable neckline.
-machine washable.

Definitely on my short list of nursing must haves! These also make a great shower or new mother gift. Making motherhood fashionable one cover at a time! I wouldnt leave home without it!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Pain FREE Waxing - taking a bite out of the pain of looking beautiful



Buy it at DermStore.com


Relatively pain free waxing is finally a possibility! C'mon ladies, i know youre interested! gone are the days when waxing caused you to scream bloody murder! these are topical numbing agents that contain benzocaine, a safe analgesic,which numb the skin and help take the sting out of waxing. Now you can have smooth legs without misery...and without resorting to shaving :)

http://www.bellasugar.com/1089791

this site list two different types, a cream and a spray on. My first instinct is that the spray on might be a little greasy and cause the wax to slip...i think im going with the cream! :)

Happy waxing!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Need Cheap Ovulation Test Strips?



Cheap ovulation test trips that won't break the bank are not that hard to come by anymore! Gone are the days when we just had to guess about when we should really be "focusing" our efforts on getting pregnant. I have an irregular cycle and never knew exactly when ovulation was going to occur - take it from an old pro - these work great! :)

Super easy to follow instructions are on the back of each test, and if you're not sure when to use it, call your doctor, or nurse-midwife. They can stear you in the right direction.

So where do I get cheap ovulation test strips?

I bought mine here.

This ebay seller is great and ships really quick.

peace and love!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Why don't my favorite jeans fit???

This is a pretty common question that goes thru a pregnant woman's mind somewhere at the end of the first trimester. I have been shocked that it came more quickly then i expected this time, but then again, i am on baby #3. Im at the end of my first trimester, and cant quite fit into my cute "your butt looks good this those" jeans.

In a previous post i strongly recommended getting a Belly band - a maternity stretchy band that allows you to continue wearing your pre-pregger pants, while unbuttoning/unzipping the top. An ingenious invention! If you're like me, you swim in the flexible waste band of your official maternity pants until closer to the 5th month. Belly bands help stretch your wardrobe and allows you to feel cute/and continue the "im not knocked up" masquerade a little longer. ;)

i lovingly refer to this stage as the TREETRUNK phase. You're not officially preggo round and cute yet, but you are starting to lose your waste to your ever expanding uterus and shifting organs. Now is the time to take advantage of places like forever21.com! no, im not kidding, you read that right. Forever21 is one of the best places to find stretchy, comfy empire-waste tops and dresses that can double as early maternity clothing. And the best part - is that its cheap.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Why Maternity Bands rock!




No, im not talking about an indie music group - im talking about Maternity Belly Bands and how much easier they make pregnancy! My Favorite by far -and the one i purchased was called Bella Band by Ingrid and Isabel. Its been such a blessing! As this is not my first pregnancy my abdominal muscles relax much faster now than they did several years ago...this means that im growing out of my regular jeans wayyyyyyy quicker. As i recently mentioned in a past post about saving money when shopping for maternity clothes, any way i can stretch my buck is a blessing!

Give em a try and see what you think! Whether youre just in your first trimester...all the way to post partum and needing a little extra support, these pack alot of bang for a little buck!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Pregnancy Cravings: Jasmine Chicken with Tomatos and Green Onions













I got this post from one of my favorite recipe blogs: Amina's Kitchen. This talented lady cooks up some serious craving food. If you've never tried Arab/Middle Eastern cuisine...i suggest you check it out. Its very easy to prepare, aromatic and flavorful...and will satisfy any preggy craving you have!

So here is comes: Jasmine Chicken with Tomatoes and Green Onions...i know you mouth is watering already! ;)
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I was going to make some burgul (Shami word for couscous) today...but then my taste buds changed and i had a hankering for some jasmine chicken with tomatoes and green onions. Im a big fan of "fresh" dishes. When i say that, i mean food that's prepared with lots of fresh ingredients, preferably things that i can grow myself in our garden. I originally got the idea for this recipe from a Dynasty Jasmine Rice bag, where they had a quick jasmine rice and chicken idea for dinner on the back. I took most of the basic ingredients and added an 3arabi spin to it. :) This is a delicious way to entertain friends and family, and the best part is that its not high in fat or calories. You wont sacrifice taste or enjoyment trying to be thin here! This dish will give your taste buds a kick! Enjoy :)


Ingredients:
4 young chicken quarters
4 cups of Dynasty Jasmine Rice, rinsed
1/2 a large white onion, chopped
2 green onion shoots, chopped
2-3 chicken bullion cubes
3-4 Roma tomatoes, diced (or sub a can of diced tomatoes)
1 - 2 Dynasty Jasmine Tea bag
3-4 table spoons of olive oil
ground pepper to taste
parsley to taste
crumbled feta cheese
water

Directions:

1. Set the over at 350 degrees. In a medium frying pan poor in olive oil, and add white onion. Saute for 2 minutes on medium, then add the chopped green onion and continue to saute for another 4 minutes on medium low heat.

2. While onion is cooking, steep the Dynasty Jasmine Tea bag(s) in two cups of hot water and set aside

3. Take the rinsed rice and put it in a frying pan, add water until it is covered. Bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and dump out the water. set aside for the time being.

4.Take the chicken quarters, rinse, and place them in a deep casserole dish or deep square cooking pan.

5. Add the tomatoes and the chicken bullion cubes to the sauteed onions and continue to cook on medium heat for 5 minutes until bullion has “melted” and all ingredients are well mixed. Add a dash of black pepper and parsley.

6.Take the rice and add water until the rice is almost covered. Then pour 1 cup of the tea over the rice as well. Bring to a boil. Then cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.

7.Add the rest of the tea to the tomatoes and onion saute and all to boil for 1 minute.

8.Pour the tomato saute over the chicken in the pan making sure that all pieces are covered by the mix. Add extra water to ensure that all of the chicken is submerged beneath the mix.

9.Cover the chicken and place in the oven. Set the timer for 90 minutes.

10.Check the rice to see if its completely cooked thru, plump, soft and a little sticky. If it needs more water, add the appropriate amount and recover, check again until it completely cooked. Once its done. Turn of the heat and allow it to steam.

11.Check back on the chicken after 90 minutes. Flit each piece and remove the skin. At this point it should be about ready to fall off the bone. Replace cover and put back in the over for another 60 minutes.

12.When the chicken is done, plate the rice first and then pick out pieces of chicken and serve of top of the rice. You can add crumbled feta cheese and parsley on top to garnish.

13.The rest of the tomato and onion mix can be poured into a bowl and served as a dipping sauce for bread.

Aminas Notes:
1.You can use other spices such as rosemary, allspice or cardamom...whatever you tastes good to you.

2. Depending on how much of the jasmine flavor you want to come thru, use one or to tea bags.

3.This dish takes about 3-4 hours to prepare. Make sure you have timed it right.

How My Husband Took The News - "Really...Pregnant...Are You Sure?"....thud.

Im one of a very small group of women who has little or nothing to complain about in the husband department. I know im fortunate. Everyone gripes from time to time about something and with most of my friends...the topic of discussion at someone point turns to their less-than-perfect spouse. My husband and I have been married 5 years now. we have lived in the States and abroad overseas. All this alone time together served to bring us very close to one another...so much so that we can predict eachothers moves, reactions...even sentences from time to time.

So since i thought i knew him sooooooooo well, i could just pick of the phone and in a hyperventilating voice, tell him the news...we're pregnant...AGAIN!

Low and behold, my hubby was in an office meeting when i decided to drop the baby bomb. He was happy and easy when he picked up the phone...his boss is pretty cool. I ask if he was sitting down and he laughed saying " thats pretty much the only way i get work done around here". My out of breath response was " oh great! ...ok...promise you wont be mad?" He chuckled over the phone and said " Ok...what is it?" i could hear im expecting me to say someone along the lines our dinner plans being changed or me misplacing the scissors for the 10th time...

"I think I'm pregnant." i blurted out.

silence....

"Hello? did you hear me?"

...uh...er...um...stutter

Finally after a second he said "Really...Pregnant...Are You Sure?"....thud. I phone fell out of his hand. I winced knowing that we had been trying to wait to get pregnant until after he finished his PhD (6 months from now.)

Suddenly he was back and sounded so happy and CALMMMMMM.

"Honey, this is wonderful! Really another baby! Congratulations! - Hey guys, im gonna be a dad again! My wife just told me that she's pregnant!"

My husband is a pretty cool guy. He takes everything in stride. Even new arrivals :)