Ringing In The New Year

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This New Year’s Eve this Hubz and I decided to keep things pretty relaxed starting with a stroll around downtown and some light shopping. Our light shopping included a trip to the maternity section at Baby Gap where they were having a massive sale on items. I ended up finding two skirts, one dress and seven tops for only $89!


After we finished shopping we headed to dinner at A Single Pebble. We had a gift certificate to use and went a little all out and ordered the mock eel, the vegan dry fried green beans, scallion pancakes, vegan mock tangerine chicken and the double garlic broccoli. We also ended up with a vegan general chou’s mock chicken because they brought us it by mistake so we ended up with a ton of leftovers. I didn’t take photos since we were having a cellphone/camera free date night but here are some recycled photos of a few of the dishes.

After our date night we headed home to relax on the couch where I promptly fell asleep at 8:30pm. No surprise though I don’t think I have made it to midnight in probably over 10 years.

The remainder of our weekend involved eating leftovers, watching Netlix (currently addicted to The Vampire Diaries) and going for a nice long walk by the lake.

How did you spend your New Year’s Weekend?

2011 in Review

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January:

I created my second e-book. 

February:

New York City Trip: Here, Here, Here and Here.

March:

I became a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach.

April:

I ate lots of kale chips.

May:

We celebrated our third wedding anniversary.

June:

I attended Wanderlust Vermont as a blogger for Ecorazzi.

July:

I ran my first 5k.

August:

The Hubz and I went camping and hiking.

September:

The Hubz planned and took me on a romantic date.

October:

I snacked on too many oatmeal cookie sandwiches.

November:

I hosted my first 30 Days of Yoga Challenge.

December:

We’re Having A Baby! 

and traveled to New York City. (here, here, here and here)

Pregnancy Update: Week 12

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Only two more weeks until I’m out of my first trimester! This has been the longest first trimester and I’m so ready to move on to phase two of my pregnancy.

your baby’s the size of a plum!

The average fetus at 12 weeks is about 2.1 inches long and .49 ounces. Now that she’s got pretty much all her parts, her main job is to keep on growing.

Your baby at 12 weeks:

  • Most of her critical systems are fully formed!
  • She’s about to enter the growth and maturation stage, in which her organs and tissues will grow and develop rapidly.
  • She’s now developing her reflexes — if you poke her body, she’ll likely move.
  • She’s opening and closing her fingers and curling her toes, too.
  • Her brain is developing fast!
(source) also note we have no idea if it’s a boy or a girl but thebump.com refers to everything as she/her.
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How I’m Changing
I’m starting to look more pregnant! My bump is starting to develop and I’m excited for the day when it is a noticeable bump and I no longer look like I have just gained weight. Other than that I haven’t noticed many other changes at this time.
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How I’m Feeling
Last week I had horrible sinus congestion and post nasal drip, but this week things are better and my morning sickness has started to lighten up.  I have had a little bit of nausea and I still have afternoon (and sometimes morning) fatigue but over all I am starting to feel better.
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What I’m Eating
I am happy to say that my food aversions are starting to die down and I am slowly getting back to normal meals. Over Christmas I was addicted to veggies and homemade vegan ranch dip; if there hadn’t been a house full of people on Christmas Eve I could have finished off the veggie and dip plate all by myself. I also have been eating lots of beans in chili, in wraps and in curry.

Vegan Wedge Salad with Tempeh Bacon

Homemade Three-Bean Veggie Chili

The Addicting Veggie Platter

The Addicting Veggie Platter

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Random Facts of the Week:

Overall weight gained: 3.5 lbs
Crying fests: um all the time when I watch tv or movies
Food cravings: veggies and vegan ranch dip and sriracha (on everything)
Number of pants that fit: 5
Maternity clothes purchased: 4 tops and 2 bottoms…..how many items returned 1 top and 1 bottom from Gap

Photos taken of the cat with our new camera (just prepping for the bebe): 200

Following Up On 2011 Resolutions

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It’s that time of year again when we all start to think about our goals/resolutions for the new year.  I honestly haven’t even started thinking about it but I wanted to first take a moment to reflect on my resolutions from last year.

(Source)

  1. Attend a blogger conference. This goal was supposed to be an easy one but then a number of various things happened and we ended up having to cancel our trip to PDX and the other conferences I was interested in going to all happened to fall on weekends we already had plans.
  2. Do an overnight backpacking trip on the Long Trail. ACCOMPLISHED. Neil and I did one over night backpacking trip this year on the Long Trail. It was a great night and I look forward to doing it again when the bebe is big enough.
  3. Run a 5k. ACCOMPLISHED. I ran my first 5k this past summer in Portland ME.  I actually have signed up for three races since then two of which I won’t be running due to pregnancy related reasons and the third is still up in the air.
  4. Blog with a purpose. ACCOMPLISHED, but always working to improve.  I feel like I have really worked hard this year to blog with more of a purpose and have more high quality posts.
  5. Embrace Health Counseling. ACCOMPLISHED, but always working on.  I have really come a long way with my health coaching and I been working on expanding my coaching every day.  This year I worked with some really amazing clients, attended a health coaching conference, and have been working on new ways of coaching via online and teleclasses.

Other things I want to do in 2011:

  • Create a “grown up” bedroom – one that has a bedroom set, a style, and is a place that the Hubz and I can retreat to; a space of our own. ACCOMPLISHED.
  • Revamp my blog- make improvements to the layout as well as the features. ACCOMPLISHED.
  • Update my health counseling blog….rather have the Hubz do it. ACCOMPLISHED.
  • Get to my happy weight by trying new activities such as P90X, hiking, running and yoga. Was on my way and then we got pregnant and weightloss has been put on the back burner. 
  • Spend more time reading. Do you have any book recommendations? ACCOMPLISHED, but still working on.
  • Spend more quality time with the Hubz- make a conscious effort to have 1 date night a week. ACCOMPLISHED.
Overall I am really proud of my accomplishments this year and I look forward to the next. 
Check out my tips for making New Years Resolutions a Reality.
Starting in January myself and Health Coach Nicole Culver will be hosting a teleclass series for the new year.
This five-week teleclass program is designed to start your 2012 off on the right foot; moving you toward a life of optimal health and wellness. Each week covers a key theme that is essential in achieving optimal health. The topics of the 5 weeks include: the knowledge and tools to losing weight naturally without deprivation, the know-how to shop and prepare foods that nourish you, the steps to take to manage your time so you can take care of your body both inside and out, ways to exercise that you’ll love and how to boost your self-confidence.

Pregnancy Update: Week 11

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The baby’s the size of a lime!

Your baby at 11 weeks

  • You can’t see it, but she’s moving fluidly and gracefully in there.
  • Her skin is see-through, but she’s on her way to looking more like a baby.
  • Her fingers and toes aren’t webbed anymore.
  • Tooth buds, hair follicles and nail beds are forming.
How I’m Changing
I unfortunately still haven’t taken any pregnancy photos, partly because I’ve been lazy and partly because my husband has been working crazy long hours and hasn’t been home before I go to bed to take a photo of me (self portraits are just a fail).  I have been feeling bloated the past week and I am really starting to feel round around the middle. I have gained three pounds since becoming pregnant and yet I feel like I have gained 10 because my body is changing so much and my clothes aren’t fitting the same (or some at all).  I am trying to just be calm about it but sometimes I just feel upset that my favorite dress doesn’t fit right or the fact that many of my tops and bras (which I need to buy new ones of) are too tight across the chest and of course the fact that I currently only have three pants that fit well.
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How I’m Feeling
This week I have had really horrible sinus congestion and postnasal drip which has been driving me crazy.  From what I have read the nasal congestion can be due to hormones, the same hormones that are causing me morning sickness, mood swings and fatigue.  My morning sickness (rather all day) is still happening and I’ve been particularly tired out in the afternoon lately.  I have to say as much of challenge as morning sickness, fatigue, ect are I am really happy that I am having these symptoms because it means the hormones are working and I am growing a healthy baby.  I am hoping that in the next 3-4 weeks I will be feeling better and the morning sickness with subside.
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What I’m Eating
I have been eating crazy meals.  I have been on my own 8-10 days out of the past two weeks because of the Hubz crazy work hours so I have just been making food for me.  Last night I had creamy corn with nooch and hot sauce, a lemonade and a potato (you can see why I didn’t blog about that).  Other meals this week have been a bean quesadilla (which my stomach hated), pasta with nooch and broccoli, soygurt with berries and granola (which I have had for almost every breakfast as well) and a tortilla with avocado, chickpeas and corn.  I also have been munching on tons of clementines.
My major food aversions are garlic and onions.  The smell makes me nauseous and it’s awful because I LOVE garlic and onions.  I also am having quite an aversion to leafy greens. I am hoping that come the second trimester these aversions will calm down and I can get back to eating normally but until then as one of my midwives says don’t stress some days all you want are mashed potatoes and thats okay.

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Random Facts of the Week:

Overall weight gained: 3 lbs
Crying fests: 1 huge one and lots of tears while watching Christmas movies
Food cravings: citrus
Amount of exercise: 0 <– working on workout goals for the upcoming week
Number of pants that fit: 3; 2 jeggings and one pair of Loft pants that luckily still fit
Maternity clothes purchased: 4 tops and 2 bottoms

Christmas Questions

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1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I am not a huge fan of either but I’d have to say hot chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? all gifts are wrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I prefer white lights

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We don’t.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend or two after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I don’t really have a favorite holiday dish but I love veggies with ranch dip which we always have at holiday parties.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Every Christmas Eve I was allowed to open one gift and it as always the gift from my Great Aunt Fran.  She would send a box of goodies with some interesting little toys and my favorite peanut butter filled chocolate from the chocolatier down the road from her.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? the truth? what do you mean! I Believe!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We still open one gift on Christmas Eve usually from my Mom and usually it’s PJs

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We decorate it with white lights and ornaments that we have acquired over the years, some from my childhood and others since Neil and I have been together.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I like it. I dread huge snow storms and icy road ways but plain old snow is fine.

12. Can you ice skate? I have no balance for skating.  I took lessons as a child and never really got he hang of it.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I don’t really think I’ve ever had a favorite gift. I really loved our 2009 trip to Disney for Christmas which was our gift (we just did stockings that year).

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with my family.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? My Mom’s Peanut Butter Balls.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Getting together with my cousins.

17. What tops your tree? A vintage tree topper (that my husband hates) that was my grandmothers.

18. Which do you prefer: Giving or receiving? Giving, I love to give gifts and watch people open them.

19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Yummy!

20. Favorite Christmas movie? All I Want For Christmas, I could watch it over and over….hmmm maybe I’ll go watch it right now.

21. Saddest Christmas song? Blue Christmas.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.

NYC Recap: Part 4

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Our last day in NYC started with a trip to our favorite spot the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. We didn’t do any of the tours this trip but we browsed the store getting ideas for my “to read” list.

After spending a good 30 minutes at the Tenement Museum we headed a few blocks over to Babycakes to pick up a morning treat.  We debated over the doughnuts and the cinnamon rolls but ultimately decided to go with a biscuit with jam and cream and a spicy cheeze biscuit.  The biscuit with jam and cream was super delicious, I wish we had ordered two so we wouldn’t have had to share.  The other biscuit was okay, I bet it’s better when it’s straight out of the oven. 

 After that we walked around a bit. 

Then we headed to Eataly.

I could have spent hours in Eataly just looking over all of the products.  We debated dining at Le Verdure, the vegetable restaurant but decided there was somewhere else we’d like to dine more. So, we picked up a bunch of little items for stocking stuffers for my parents and a few treats for us before heading on our way.

We ended up walking just a few blocks and found ourselves heading into Pure Food and Wine for lunch.  This restaurant has been on my NYC Bucket list for years now and I’m so glad we finally decided to try it.

We both looked over the menu trying to decide what we would order (everything sounded amazing) but ultimately decided to go big or go home and we both went with the 3 course lunch. We were given three options to choose from for each course (salad, entree, dessert). To make the most of our experience Neil and I decided that we would each order something different and share everything so we each were able to try six different things. I’ll forewarn you now that all of Neil’s photos of the dishes he ordered were too out of focus for me to post and mine do not do the food justice. 

Salad Course: I ordered the Caesar Salad (romaine lettuce, nori, pumpkin seed macadamia parmesan, lemon)and Neil ordered the Mediterranean Salad (arugula and kale, kalamata olives, tomatoes, pumpkin seed macadamia parmesan, balsamic vinaigrette). The Mediterranean salad was good but not great, but the Caesar salad was incredible. I could have just eaten a giant bowl of Caesar Salad and been a happy girl.

Entree Course: I ordered the tortilla wraps (spicy sun-dried tomato filling, corn cilantro guacamole,tomato-lime salsa, cashew sour cream) and Neil ordered the zucchini and tomato lasagna (sun-dried tomato sauce, pistachio basil pesto pumpkin seed macadamia ricotta). Both dishes were amazing but I have to say that we both favored the tortilla wraps.

Dessert: I ordered the lemon bar (almond coconut crust, tart lemon custard) and Neil ordered the tiramisu (vanilla cream layered with coffee sake almond cake).  For this one I shared a bit of my lemon bar but didn’t have any of Neil’s dessert because of the coffee.  I have to say it was a tie though because according to Neil they were both amazing.

We ended our night with a quick trip to the Whole Foods beer store so that Neil could pick up a few homebrew items and then we caught a taxi to the airport where we hungout until our flight. We eventually arrived home at midnight to find our car wouldn’t start and ended up spending 2.5 hours at the airport waiting for a service truck to arrive.  Not a great end to an amazing weekend but oh well!