Sad, sad cookies.

Today was the most beautiful fall day.  I took Silas on two walks in the neighborhood.  The leaves are falling and crunchy, the colors are beautiful, there was a little breeze, absolutely perfect.  I had every intention of going to the gym today, but it didn't happen.  I'm getting tired, I feel huge and I'm not motivated.  Haha.  So we took naps and cooked.  I wanted cookies so I pulled out a favorite cook book and got baking.

 

I am a little upset. 

I followed the recipe, I even measured pretty exactly because I wanted GOOD cookies.  I have a tendency to change things and sometimes that doesn't work out but this time, I followed the recipe, dang it!  I'm guessing the author didn't test out her claim of "or coconut oil."  They do still taste good, so at least there's that.  You know I've been scraping them off the pan with a big spatula and eating it. 

I made soup too, and that turned out pretty good.  Thank goodness.  I can't deal with two failures in the kitchen in one day.  I even made mental notes of what I was doing so I could share it here.  

This is like a chicken chili or chicken tortilla inspired soup.   I'll call it Spicy Chicken Soup.  

For the chicken 

8 chicken tenderloin pieces or 4 boneless skinless breasts (I used Trader Joe's frozen tenderloins.) 

Fiesta Lime Mrs Dash 

Preheat oven to 350* and place the chicken on an oiled baking sheet.  Sprinkle liberally with the Mrs. Dash.  Bake until the chicken is no longer pink.  Mine took about 20 minutes.  Chop or shred, you're going to add this right to the soup at the end.  

For the Soup 

1 bag of Trader Joe's Fire Roasted Veggies or 1 medium onion and 2 bell peppers

1 cup Trader Joe's Fire Roasted Corn or whatever corn you have 

1 14 oz can tomatoes, I used "Southwestern with green chiles" 

1 14 oz can kidney beans

1/4 cup chili powder

2 tablespoons cumin

1 tablespoon garlic powder

pinch of cinnamon

pinch of cayenne

pinch of chipotle powder

Chicken stock or water and bouillon 

I started by cooking the bag of veggies on medium heat, these come frozen and cook down very quickly, then I added the corn and spices.  I try to keep things on the mild side so Silas can eat what we do, but I didn't do a very good job of that this time.  He ate a few beans, but I could tell it was too spicy for him.  Poor kid. Once that is cooked down, add the can of tomatoes and the beans.  At this point I added about 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of chicken bouillon.  Heat through.  When the chicken is done and chopped add that to the pot and stir.  Simmer on low for a while or until you remember you've got the stove on.  

You can serve this with tortilla chips, sour cream, cheese, fresh limes or whatever you like.  I shredded a little cheese on the top of mine.  

I love Trader Joe's.  These are a staple in our house.

The veggies, corn, tomatoes, beans and spices.

With the water and bouillon added.

Chicken fresh from the oven. 

 My bowl.

With cheese.  You can see Silas's little plate in the background.  He didn't love it. 

What have you messed up in your kitchen lately? 

32 Week Update

I'm just going to make this a quick one.  I haven't felt like writing this week.  We had some play dates, some crazy diaper rash and Silas got his flu shot.  We even made it to the gym twice.  Woot!  

How far along:  32 weeks.
   
Size of Baby:   A large jicama, 3 3/4 pounds, and nearly 17 inches.   
 

Weight Gain:  About 15 pounds.  Ahem.   

Nursery:  Now I'm starting to freak out about this.  I have 8 or 9 weeks tops.   

Movement:  He's still moving a lot.  I'm looking forward to him running out of room, maybe then he'll keep his arms and legs to himself.   

Symptoms:  Nothing new.  The usual aches and pains, having even more trouble getting comfortable for sleep.   

Cravings:   This baby desires lots and lots of protein.  I baked some chicken legs today and there were no leftovers.  I will be doing that again tomorrow. 

What I Miss:  I keep seeing these really yummy looking cocktails for fall.  We used to gather around the fire in the yard with the neighbors and roast marshmallows and sip delicious cocktails.  The fires are still going but sometimes I'm so tired by the end of the day, I won't even go out for a little fire and a marshmallow. 

Looking Forward To:  I'm planning to go to Chicago to see my friend's band next weekend.  I haven't seen his band play in probably 5 years and I haven't seen him since I was pregnant with Silas.  I'm looking forward to a little fun in the city.  OH!  And all the fun Halloween festivities! 

Overnight Oats and 31 Week Update

I can't believe I'm 31 weeks today!  It's cooler here, but I know I'm in the home stretch because I've started crunching ice.  When I was pregnant with Silas I ate so much ice at the end.  It drove my supervisor crazy.  I made at least 2 trays of ice at work everyday and ate them.  A quick google search says this may be a sign of anemia.  I better thaw out some steaks to be on the safe side.  Anything for a steak.  

I wanted to share my overnight oats "recipe" with you guys.  I like to have this made and ready to go so I don't have to worry about breakfast in the morning.  The recipe is basic and very easy, with endless possibilities.  A quick google search will yield so many variations, you could try a new one everyday for a year probably.  I use old fashioned rolled oats, but any oats work, except maybe steel cut oats.  The special thing I've started doing is making these in mason jars.  I take about 6 jars, measure out the oats, maybe add some chia seeds, and then every couple nights add some fresh mix-ins, the milk and shake!  It makes our mornings that much easier. 

Basic Overnight Oats
1/2 cup Oats.
1/2 cup milk of your choice, any will work: almond, soy, rice, cow, goat, emu.  Sometimes I use water if I'm adding yogurt.  We don't drink juice, but I bet you could use it.  Apple juice and cinnamon?  Yummy.

That's the basic formula, stir or shake, cover and refrigerate.

Add Ins
Fruit, frozen or fresh.
Pumpkin!
Yogurt, we like Greek.
Protein powder, you'd have to experiment with the amount of liquid if you added protein powder.  I've tried chocolate protein with peanut butter.  That is a breakfast with staying power.
Chia seeds, about a tablespoon will do, be sure to add extra liquid, chia seeds can absorb 10 times their weight in water!
Nuts or nut butter.
Sweetener if you want.  I like maple syrup, but someone ate it all (it was me).

Here's some pictures of the two I threw together tonight for tomorrow.

 This is 1/2 cup oats with frozen mixed berries for the Mr. and about 1/2 cup pumpkin puree and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice for Silas and I. 

 Adding the milk, soy milk for the Mr. and whole milk us.

 All shook up!  Ready to soak in all that goodness.  You can microwave these for a nice hot breakfast or eat them cold.

Let's make the 31 week update quick!  The list is getting redundant.  The baby is now approximately 16 inches long and 3.3 pounds, about the size of a romaine lettuce.  I have put on more weight than I care to mention, I'm still having a boy, the nursery has barely been worked on,  he's kicking the bejesus out of me, I have heart burn and I'm out of my preferred brand of antacid (Walgreens brand, Tums style, tropical fruit flavored; this is very important), craving ice, missing wine, and looking forward to Halloween! 

The Apple Festival and Forest Preserve

The weekend was a little off for me.  Saturday was a hard day.  It was cold and rainy and I lost my car in a parking lot.  I was walking around and around clicking the car lock to try and hear it, but that wasn't working.  Naturally I was running late too so I was about ready to cry by the time I found it.  Thankfully, I didn't have Silas with me.  A few other things happened but I won't rehash it all.  Sunday was better!  In the afternoon we headed to the Heirloom Apple Festival that I've been looking forward to.  It was at the Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve.  I've never been to this particular forest preserve before.  There is a little farm house on the premises, the Durant House Museum.  It was so cool to walk through the house.  There were people in period clothing giving tours and slicing up heirloom apples.  They had about 10 apples to try and most of them I've never heard of before.  They also have a one room school house on the property.  You can go in and ring the big school bell, write on a slate "chalk board" with a piece of soap stone and try on the dunce cap.  I really love this kind of thing.  I didn't get so many great pictures, I had Silas in the sling and it's hard to take pictures like that but here's a few. 

The table of apples.

This is the table in the "modern kitchen." I loved the stove. 

Inside the school house. 

 

The dunce cap!!

Monday we went to the gym.  I didn't make it last week so I'm glad to be back at it this week.  Silas loves to go play with all the kids.  He couldn't get in the door to the play room fast enough.  

Today we went to a state park, this one is about 5 minutes from the house and I love it.  It's James Pate Philip State Park.  They have a cool nature center and lovely trails.  I haven't seen much of the trails, one time the creek was flooded over the bridge and today I was letting Silas walk around so we didn't make it far.  I thought we would be there for a couple hours, but he didn't last long.  He walked well for a while, but he keep tripping.  I was trying to teach him how to dust off his hands by brushing them on his pants.  I was demonstrating by brushing my hands on my pants and he walked over and dusted his hands off on my pants.  I cracked up.   

I'm trying to squeeze as much fun things as I can in the last few moments of my time with Silas as an "only" child.  Winter is coming and so is the new baby.  I'm afraid we will be cooped up and exhausted.  I know things will be changing dramatically, so I'm trying to treasure these last moments. 

I'm hoping to share a couple easy make-ahead breakfast ideas this week.  I love when I can get up and not think about frying eggs for the masses. 

How are you enjoying your last few moments before winter? 

30 Week Update!

It's funny how things change.  It's Friday night and I'm home.  Before Silas I would be deep, deep, deep into happy hour by now.  I don't even think you can call it happy hour at this point.  So far tonight I've mopped the floors and washed my hair.  The floors really needed it, I'm not going to comment on my hair.  My husband sold his motorcycle tonight too.  I know he was a little sad to see it go.  More changes.  But I know neither of us would have it any other way.

I skipped week 29.  So we are at 30 now!  I can't believe it.  I was told your second pregnancy flies by and it seems true.  Although looking back to when I first found out, I would be walking around the neighborhood in the evenings, and it hardly felt like spring.  I would walk around and "talk" to the baby in my head and that all feels so long ago.  Now I'm 3/4 of the way through!  I should probably start working more seriously on the nursery.   

How far along:  30 weeks.
 

Size of Baby:   About the size of a large cabbage, nearly 16 inches and almost 3 pounds!  

Weight Gain:  About 13 pounds. 

Nursery:  I have started cleaning it out.  A couple nights ago I took two bags of beloved items trash out of there.  It's a start. 

Movement:  Still kicking good!  It starting to hurt my ribs. 

Symptoms:  Some aches and pains, my back is starting to hurt now too.  I need to do my prenatal yoga.  And hit the gym!  We haven't been this week.  

Cravings:  Today I wanted Mexican food in the worst way, something like a chimichanga and rice and re-fried beans.  We got Chipotle.  It did the trick. 

What I Miss:  Taking deep breaths, everything is getting all squished up in there, including my lungs.   

Looking Forward To:  Aaron and I have a date out tomorrow night and Sunday there's an heirloom apple festival at a forest preserve near here.  I find heirloom fruits and veggies very interesting.  That sounds a little nerdy.    

I thought this was too funny not to share.  I ordered our Chipotle online and Aaron went to go pick it up.  You can save your order so it's easier to order every time.  We usually get salads and they're named "Charisse" and "Aaron" but I didn't want a salad.  I wanted a giant burrito with everything in it.  So I made that order and instead of naming it "Charisse" because it's not really me wanting to eat a giant burrito with everything in it, it's the tiny tyrant in my belly.  So I named it "Pregnant Wife."  (I don't think there's anyone who thinks I'm funnier than I think I am, except maybe my mom).  I was hoping they would see that and take pity on me or my husband.  I hoped that this could lead to our order being filled quickly or a free burrito or a really big burrito or something.  I got this:  

This made my night.  I should really get out more.  For the record, it was a really big burrito. 

 

My Little Announcement

Since I said I had an announcement, a couple people have asked if we're having twins.  No, no.  That would be a BIG announcement.  I guess that's what I get for leaving people in suspense.  The announcement is that I've opened an Etsy shop!  I'm slowly listing things and as I make more things, I will add them.  Here's the link!  Honey Bee Jewelry Co on Etsy  I'm really excited.  I've got a lot to learn still but I'm glad I took the first step!  All you can do is try.  Here's a few things you would find there. 

 Lapis and Moonstone Bracelet

Green Quartz and Moonstone Bracelet

I think this pendant is so cool!  It's a pumice stone, painted green with a turquoise bead on top and a spiral on the bottom.  I love it.  

 

I love this one too.  Similar to the green one, it's a painted pumice stone accented with hematite discs.  

 

This is an unpainted pumice stone with a dangling star.  Sorta celestial.  

 

I gave all the ladies in my family a pendant like this last Christmas.  This is a turquoise cross with pink tourmaline accents. 

I'm hoping to get out to the flea market soon to pick up some more beads.  It's a pretty good hobby for wintertime too!  

Do you have an Etsy shop?  We could be shop friends if you did.  Do you have a winter hobby?  Or an anytime hobby?  I know some of my friends are crafty!