14 raves and favs

I'm not Oprah, and can't begin to offer free truckloads of my favorite things to my readers, but I can share with you some of my favorite food, fitness and family things as of late.

Silicone Baking Cups: I stumbled upon these cups in the baking section of TJ Max. I think I only paid $4 or $5 for them, but wow, they are awesome. I love baking using alternative flours (coconut flour, almond meal, etc.), but my muffin recipes always stick to paper baking cups. Silicone to the rescue. Not only are these reusable, but my alternative flours don't stick to them. I can't wait to make breakfast egg muffins using them.

Reebok Performance Rib Tanks: A couple months ago, I had a Dick's Sporting Goods giftcard burning a hole in my pocket and I was determined to buy some new workout clothes that would fit my new mom curves since all my old tanks had built-in shelf bras that wouldn't quite cut it anymore. After being completely overwhelmed with the vast selection of items, I finally settled upon purchasing three of these simple tanks, in black, turquoise and pink. They're  basic ribbed tanks, but made of performance fabric instead of cotton, so they wear very well. I absolutely love them.

Lululemon Shorts: When I was pregnant, I told myself that I would treat myself to a Lululemon shopping spree after I had lost all my baby weight postpartum. For some reason, this shopping spree never happened, but luckily I'm friends with the southeast regional manager of Lululemon and she completely surprised me the other day with a pair of shorts. (No, below is not a picture of my booty--it's a stock image.) Love this springy blue color, as well as all the technical features. Thank you Teri!

New Balance Minimalist Shoes: Gifted with another giftcard (thank you Gret!), I hit up Dick's again, but this time online, to order a pair of minimalist shoes. I was determined to buy the New Balance Minimus shoes, but went with the 730 Running shoe thanks to a $40 pricepoint difference. These shoes are still very minimal, and will be great for olympic lifting, as there's no give in the heel.

Planet Box: I know it's a bit pricey, but I really love my Planet Box. Since having James Michael, I've been on a ridiculous salad kick, and eat a big salad at least 4 times a week. Making it at home is one thing, but when I want to carry a salad to work, it gets a little tricky since I add so many ingredients. At one point, I was using 5 plastic baggies for all the ingredients, but now, I can just use my Planet Box and it works out perfectly.

Pastel Nail Colors: In the past, I've always opted for a bright red or dark pink nail color on my toes, especially while I'm still pale from the winter. Then once I get some color on my skin, I switch it up completely and go with a neutral color that accents my tan. But it seems that nail color has become a huge trend lately. I'd been wanting to try something different, and finally bought two new colors to try out: tart deco and lilacism. As much as I wanted to avoid paying close to $8 a bottle, when compared to every other brand, Essie just had the best colors.

Target skirts: Working next to a Target is both convenient and dangerous. I recently went to Target on my lunch break to get breast pump steaming bags, which of course they didn't have, so somehow I found myself in the clothing section, thinking how I needed a few basic skirts to get me through what is sure to be a hot summer. I found the Merona Womens' Doubleweave skirt, which fit perfectly and was only $23, so I snatched up two colors: dynamo violet and denim.

Baby sunglasses: I mean, seriously, who can resist smiling when seeing a baby in sunglasses? These have come in handy for our early evening walks. And James Michael looks so coooooool in camo :)

Jogging Stroller: I'm so thankful I found a jogging stroller on Craigslist a few weeks ago for only $45--we use it all the time. Compared to his Graco stroller, the jogging stroller is made of super lightweight fabric, so I feel like he stays much cooler now that it's hot outside. We plop JM in the stroller every time we take him up to the gym, and if the workout involves running, I take him along.

This stroller has also allowed us to go on family walks/runs at Cochran Shoals (what I always refer to as the River). And just yesterday we went on a walk/run at the Bob Callan Trail. It was awesome and I plan to go back often since it's closer to where we live than the Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna.

A Sleeping Baby: When we travelled out of town last weekend, JM had a horrible night. I got about 2 hours of sleep from 11pm until 6am, and must have gotten up close to 10 times to tend to him in the pack and play. I'm still not sure why he slept so terribly, but nights like this make me super thankful for nights when he does sleep well. JM always sleeps better at home than on the road, but I'm hoping he gets more adaptable as he gets older. When it comes down to it, there's nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.

TJ's Dark Chocolate Almonds: We tested out Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Almonds last weekend and I was hooked. The ever clever Joe the Trader sprinkled the chocolate coating with sea salt, making this treat the perfect balance of sweet and salty. I highly recommend these, just make sure you have someone to share them with or you could end up devouring the whole container!

Spice Jars: Even post-baby, it seems I'm still in a nesting phase. When I have free time, which is very rare, I try to tackle small projects. After realizing that our spice cabinet was out of control, I purchased a dozen spice jars in an attempt to downsize. I managed to throw out 3/4 of our misellaneous containers to clean up our cabinet. Now, I just need to print out labels for the jars to complete the project.

My Boys: It's amazing just how much your heart changes when you start a family. You hear other parents talk about it, but you really don't get it until you experience it yourself. I never thought of myself as an emotional person in the past, but James Michael has changed that. Starting a family even changes the way you see your spouse. You wonder how you could love your husband more than you do on your wedding day, and then seeing him loving on your child brings your love for him to a whole new level.

Being pregnant: Yes, I'm one of those women who will finally admit it: I loved being pregnant. I had a great, healthy pregnancy, and for that I am super thankful. Looking back at old pictures of myself, I'm discovering just how much I miss being pregnant. Now I'm not Michelle Dugger and don't plan on spending a couple decades pregnant, but I am already looking forward to the next little one in the future. Until we're ready for that one, I'm trying to get myself back into good shape doing CrossFit. I'm finally back to doing most all WODs prescribed (except muscleups!). I really think CrossFit helped me feel my best. I can't make it to the gym 4 to 5 days a week like I did in the past, but I'm trying to make the best of my 2 to 3 weekly visits. On days I'm not at the gym, I try to run/walk with James Michael just to keep moving--and keep him entertained!

a newfound perspective for mother's day

Memories of last year's Mother's Day make me smile each time I think back to that special weekend in May. My dad's birthday always falls close to Mother's Day, so we celebrate the two events together most years. Last year, I told my parents I was giving them a joint gift, and I get immediately sappy as I recall the looks on their faces when they discovered the contents in their giftbox: a poster reading "Got Plans NYE?" and underneath a newborn onesie. Dad questioned what NYE stood for, convinced it had to do something with New York, while mom discovered the onesie and let out a squeal of joy. (Dad eventually put two and two together and realized that New Year's Eve was my due date.)

Fast forward one year, and now that I'm about to celebrate my first Mother's Day, I've begun to realize the great responsibility of motherhood and am counting my lucky stars that I've had such a great role model over the years.

Mom, you've taught me to think before I speak, and hold my tongue if my words could injure others. You've taught me that I can reach any goal I set for myself, no matter how lofty. You've been my No. 1 fan, even when I'm struggling from the sidelines. You've shown me that caring for others develops as a natural habit and comes straight from the heart. You've reminded me that no one is perfect, and that I have to learn to forgive others. You've been my sounding board during difficulties, never convicing me to make certain decisions, but giving me solid, objective advice so that I can make my own choices. You've postponed your priorities to offer me safe harbor and comfort with no questions asked. You've taught me the value of hard work.

As a mother, you are the epitome of Corinthians 13.

On a lighter note, I'm now starting to understand what I once thought were motherly quirks:

• Watering down our cherry Koolaid because you thought it was too sweet
• Making us run laps at the rest stop on the way to the beach
• Banning the phrase "shut up"
• Convincing us that fruit is the ultimate dessert
• Limiting us to 30 minutes of TV per day in the summer
• Giving us an earlier curfew than most kids
• Never stocking sodas in the pantry
• Forcing us to play outside
• Leaving us lists of chores to do in the summer
• Insisting that we apologize to each other with "I'm sorry" instead of just "sorry"
• Packing homemade lunches when traveling instead of stopping for fast food
• Making us help with yard work, especially pulling up weeds

You'll never know just how much you mean to me--and I know I'll never be able to adequately express it. Just know that if I end up being exactly like you as a mother, I'll consider myself fortunate.

Happy Mother's Day!

good eats

I haven't had much time for recipe creation during the past few months, so I've relied heavily on others' recipes and a few of my trusted old ones. Thought I'd share a few of my favorites:

• Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes: I added cocoa to the batter to make it chocolatey as well. This icing is delicious. Not strict paleo because of the icing, but a great alternative to regular cupcakes.
• Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Bacon Vinaigrette: loooooooved this recipe. A paleo dream. I didn't have chesnuts on hand, but it was still amazing.
  
• Zucchini Noodles: We typically make spaghetti using spaghetti squash, but zucchini noodles were a nice change. I topped them with sauteed turkey kielbasa and marinara. I actually sauteed my noodles, and I've also heard of microwaving them.
  
• Brussels Sprouts with Gin, Pancetta, Caraway, and Sherry Vinegar: Obviously, I've been on a Brussels Sprouts kick lately. I've mixed this recipe up a bit by using bacon and apple cider vinegar--still amazing.
• Baked Fish with Spinach: April from the gym reminded me of this recipe a couple months. I've made it twice during the past month, and it's still just as good as the first time I made it.
• Fish Sticks: No big secret here, but I dredge pieces of cod in egg, then a mixture of almond meal, coconut flour, garlic salt and black pepper, and bake in the oven for 25 minutes or so on an oiled cookie sheet.
• Honey-Pepper Bacon Pops: Made these for a CrossFit baby shower, and yum, who can resist bacon?!?
  

Recipes to try soon:

• Berry Crumble: Yum yum yum. I'm wanting to try this using strawberries and blackberries.
• Paleo Granola Bars
• Cauliflower Pizza Crust: still deciding between recipes: No. 1 or No. 2. I normally make paleo pizza out of almond meal, egg whites, salt and herbs.
• Carrot Cake Cookie Bars
• Spinach Sweet Potato Egg Nests
• Stuffed Pork Tenderloin: My friend Lauren recommended this recipe and said it was delicious. 
• Mahi mahi with mango salsa: It's been more than a year since I've made this salsa, and now that mangoes are coming into season, I can't wait to make it again.
  

the life and times of a working mom

Earlier this week, my sweet James Michael turned four months old. That means I've been back at work for more than a month, and just when I thought I was getting the hang of it all and finding some sort of balance, baby boy's sleeping habits reverted so that he started waking up more often at night.

Being a full-time working mom is tough, but I know millions of women do it. Knowing that doesn't make it easier, but it makes me realize it's survivable. During maternity leave, my sole focus was James Michael. Even though I was constantly sleep deprived, my attention was on him and his needs. So if I had a couple particularly bad nights in a row, I could still manage and take care of him and plan my days accordingly.

Now that I'm working, my attention is divided and I'm juggling the expectations of my baby, myself, my husband, friends, family, in-laws, etc. It seemed much more manageable to balance these relationships when I wasn't working. But now, it seems I'm always in catch-up mode.

There are never (and I realize will never be) enough hours in a day to get everything done. I constantly remind myself that taking a step back and slowing down is ok--that I should enjoy the moments I have with my son while he is this young. But it's hard (as all working moms know), because even when you're spending time with your baby after work, you're constantly thinking about that ever-increasing to-do list and scheming how to make time to check off one more task within a very short window of free time: clean the bottles, prep bottles for next day, do laundry, cook dinner, prep lunch, pump, clean, blog (who am I kidding, this is obviously lowest on my priority list!).

This past week, I briefly had another one of those "I can't do this" moments. I'm sure the lack of sleep and the imbalanced horomones definitely contributed to it. I'm one of those people who wants to do it all--to be it all for those I care about. It's crazy, but I feel bad when I'm either too tired or don't have time to make the kind of dinner I want for my husband. I feel bad when the house is dirty and I'm too tired to clean it after the baby's in bed. I feel bad when I only get to spend a couple hours at night with James Michael.

I truly admire all the single moms out there who make it work. I'm pretty much a single mom at night during the week while James is running the gym, and I know just how hard it is.

I'm still learning how to balance everything, and I'm honestly not sure if I'll ever get the hang of it or have enough attention to devote to everything I'd like. But I'm trying to catch myself and remember to take a few steps back every so often to mentally capture these moments that are so fleetingly precious.

6 a.m. -- up and at 'em getting ready before work

I'd love to be able to post some tips in the future, I just need to figure them out myself first :)