In which I gaze upon my navel and rejoice in the fact that it is Saturday
Why Saturday is a good day despite the fact that it is cold and rainy and I had to turn the furnace on (Spring? Really? WTF?):
1. The end of my first week at work. When you live with a baby, everything changes, all the time. From that tiny blob you bring home to 11 months later when she is walking (oh lordy) every day brings something new. And then you go back to work and you realize that nothing really changes. The office might be a bit crazier than it was before, there might be a few new people, but at the end of week, it’s still pretty much the same.
Speaking of work, I got invited to a going-away toast/hockey watching thing for the person who is losing her job because I went back to mine. I begged off, saying we had to get the Poptart used to me coming home at certain times, but really it just felt kind of weird.
2. Baby snuggles. I picked up the Poptart this morning and she snuggled right into me for about 45 minutes.
3. Tax refunds. They came yesterday. Today, we shop because we both need shirts, pants and shoes.
4. The ‘Burbs. One of my all-time favourite bad movies. It’s on TV at the moment. Others include: Joe versus the Volcano and Hudson Hawk.
5. In some ways, going back to work wasn’t that bad. This is going to sound odd, but I like the chance to miss the Poptart. It makes me appreciate all the time I do have with her (and the fact that she decided to get up for 3 hours from 12-3am on Thursday, and then get up for the day at 3am yesterday is made infintely easier because it’s time we can spend together).
Food Revolution Fridays: Quinoa
I know I’m the mother of a small child when I the highlight of my Friday evening (especially during Stanley Cup playoffs when Darren is glued to Blackhawks’ games) is Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. It’s basically healthy food p0rn.
And since I am the mother of a small child who apparently loves to eat (although the last week or so, she’s more interested in throwing her food on the floor than in her mouth), I figure I should start making more of an effort to eat healthier meals.
So I’ve joined Scattered Mom’s Food Revolution Fridays. A couple of weeks late but things have been hectic around here.
Today’s healthy dinner:
- locally sourced, hormone free T-bone steaks, broiled, with horseradish (or if you’re Darren, barbeque sauce)
- Quinoa Salad
I’ve been interested in trying out quinoa for awhile, in there interests of incorporating more whole grains. Quinoa is touted as a superfood – it’s a complete protein with all 8 amino acids. The Incans called it “chesiya mama”: the mother grain. So I bought a pile at Costco the other day and I quite like it.
The Poptart enjoyed playing with it and smearing it all over her face.
And of course, I’m not one to really follow a recipe so I bastardized the recipe linked above. This is what I did.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 C dry quinoa (cooked in 3 C of liquid)
- Diced red pepper
- Cucumber, quartered and sliced
- garlic sauteed broccoli and asparagus (this was leftover from last night. Steaming would work too)
- 1/4 C grapeseed oil (I’ve switched from olive oil to grapeseed for the most part)
- 1/3 C lemon juice (or in my case, the juice of one large lemon)
- 2 tsp (or so, probably a little more) minced garlic (from a jar. If you’re really ambitious, you could mince it yourself, but why?)
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Cook the quinoa in liquid at a ratio of 1:2 (so for every cup of quinoa, use 2 cups of liquid). You can use water, chicken or veggie broth (but watch the sodium unless you make your own). Bring it to a boil, uncovered, then turn heat to low, cover it and cook it for about 15 minutes or until the grains are translucent and the germ is white, like so:
While it’s cooking, chop the veggies; whisk the oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper together.
Remove the quinoa from heat, fluff with some sort of utensil and let it cool a bit (you can put it in a bowl. Since we’re using lemon juice, use something non-reactive).
When it’s cooled a bit, mix in the veggies and dressing. Chill before serving.
Voila:
(I was going to throw the chickpeas in, but Darren’s not a fan. I’ll add them when I eat the leftovers for lunch).
Oh, and hey! There’s a website and book about quinoa cooking: Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood.
(No, I’m not being compensated for that. Thanks to @smuttysteff for the link)
So yeah. Quinoa. Go. Buy. Eat. Yum.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, or Why we are in so much trouble
So my last post, where I talked about the cold turkeyness of recent days here? That’s just a snapshot of the changes we’ve been having.
Since our Nanny arrived at the end of March, the Poptart has:
- learned how to clap (I have trained her to clap at the appropriate times to the song, “If you’re happy and you know it”)
- started handing me things to put on, eat, fill, etc (she will pick up an empty bottle, stick the nipple in her mouth and then give it to me – indicating she wants a bottle)
- gotten her first cold that I’m aware of (and to prove she is our daughter, she didn’t do it halfway: throat and ear infection needing antibiotics)
- we purchased a humidifier
- started climbing the stairs (we purchased and installed a gate)
- Will come up to me, say “Mum” or “Mama” and lift her arms up (or try to pants me as she pulls herself up)
- Started walking (and I was right. We are in so much trouble because now she can walk around and reach things like my wine glass or coffee cup)
Cold Turkey
One week from today, I go back to work full-time. There’s no transitioning in period; I go back fulltime, cold turkey.
I have arranged my hours, my transit pass, my childcare (and honestly, everyone needs a nanny), and refilled my zoloft. The Poptart has weaned, cold turkey. Next week, we are going stateside for a day, I think, to do some shopping as both Darren and I need new clothes.
A few weeks ago, I was pretty much done with breastfeeding. My goal had been to breastfeed through flu season (end of February) and anything beyond that was just gravy.
I am an only child. I am used to having my own space and I enjoy my own company. Of course, I enjoy the Poptart’s company more, but I needed some space. Although we were down to one or two nursing sessions per day, I was just done. I wanted my body back. I was tired of wearing a bra or nursing tank at night. I wanted to be able to exercise without feeling like I had to bind myself with duct tape.
So one morning in March, I just didn’t offer and gave the Poptart some eggs and oatmeal with prunes instead. And she didn’t ask to nurse. She had a bottle a bit later and we snuggled, and she fell asleep in my arms like she usually does.
And that, as they say, was that. I expect she would have nursed if I had offered but she seemed content with snuggling and having a bottle. I expressed to relieve pressure and broke out the pump once when it looked like I had a blocked duct.
About 10 days later, our Nanny arrived. I had to get used to someone else living in my house, cold turkey. This, of course, was made easier by the fact that I didn’t have to clean much any more. But it is kind of weird that there’s someone living in the house that does the cleaning that isn’t me.
This week, I don’t stop cooking entirely, but Monday through Thursday, dinner will be made for us, allowing me to spend time with the Poptart when I get home. I just make sure the groceries are in the house.
And that, as they say, is that. Cold turkey.
PSA: Oh, that Hated Sales Tax (The HST)
It’s no secret that the Campbell Liberals (and really, a lot of them are old SoCreds – and for those that remember, the irony of this will become apparent shortly) want to implement the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in BC later on this year.
Former Social Credit (SoCred – oh the irony) Premier Bill Vander Zalm has received permission to launch an official Citizen’s Initiative Petition against the HST. If it receives 10% of signatures from registered voters in each electoral district, the decision on whether to implement the HST will have to go to a referendum or it must be scrapped.
Now you may have already signed some online petitions against it, and that’s great. But in order for your opinion to count, you MUST sign the Citizen’s Initiative Petition.
To sign the petition, you must be a registered voter and go to the appropriate place or contact your local canvasser.
Now, my own opinion? I’m signing as soon as there’s someone in my electoral area who’s collecting signatures. I think we have enough taxes and the HST will be revenue-neutral, apparently, because businesses get it all back at the end of the year. I don’t think businesses will pass on lower prices to the consumer – why would they when they can turn more of a profit?
And I don’t enjoy the prospect of paying HST on my strata fees. So I’m saying:
Contacts and locations to sign the petition can be found here.
GTT: Awesomeness and Powerfulness in a Suit
This week’s Girl Talk Thursday is about what we wear to feel awesome/powerful/sexy.
For me, it’s one of these designer suits I picked up at Filene’s Basement in Chicago (for real – they were having suit sale: 2 for $150 and the dollar was basically at par. I should have bought 4). It’s a bluish-grey base with subtle multi-coloured stripes – almost a pinstripe. I have the choice of pants or a skirt that it came with. It rocks.
The other one I got is a steel grey with whitish stripes (but not blinding white like Ross’ teeth in that episode of “Friends” where he whitened his teeth).
And then there’s the “custom made” one made of steel grey silk (yep). That doesn’t quite fit because my inlaws brought it back from me from one of their trips and I got my measurements wrong. But it’s okay! Incentive to fit into it! really! I can pull off the skirt in a pinch though because the jacket flares out.
Pair any of those with a pair of awesome heels, and I am awesome, powerful and (I think) sexy. So long as I don’t fall down in the heels. So if I’m feeling unstable, I’ll wear the pants and wear my CFMBs* that have a slightly wider heel, because it’s no use wearing the CFMBs and tripping on your way to the kitchen table bed.
I should really see if those suits fit, considering I have to go back to work in three weeks. And go shoe shopping.
Cross border trip, anyone?
*That link is to the Urban Dictionary, in case you’re having problems remembering what CFMBs are.
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Hey! If you’re Canadian, you can participate in my giveaway! Go to this post and leave a comment on what your ultimate reno-cation would be!
