Food Lifestyle

My friend Jen lent me this cookbook and I have to go buy it for myself. I rarely sit down and read a cookbook but I totally got lost in this one. It has an amazing amount of info and delicious recipes.

My family has been almost strict vegetarian for 4 months now. I say almost because we usually eat meat once a week, sometimes more, and it's when we go out or to family's for dinner. Dave has contemplated going vegetarian for some time and we jumped in after reading this book. I have found that I feel lighter, cleaner, all around better on our new diet. We eat all organic produce and packaged food when possible (crackers, cookies, sauces, etc.) It's been an adventure trying new 'vegetarian meat' and finding the right ingredients that are best for us and the kids. I will admit, it's kinda funny shopping for 'processed healthy food' as Dave calls it when we are scanning the frozen organic section at the market. There are several brands of organic vegetarian 'meats' that are SO GOOD. I don't miss chicken at all because this brand is surprisingly delicious. It's got a few no-no's in it for Dave and TJ, like milk which they are allergic too, but they seem to handle it fine. Our local Safeway has a huge organic section which is awesome, but pricey. Trader Joe's is our new favorite place to shop for food. I never realized that they really are cheaper than the big name markets or I would have shopped there a lot sooner. The next step to our healthier family is cutting out refined sugars and flours. This is going to be a hard one, and probably impossible, because we have a lot of flour stored up and it's so much cheaper to buy white sugar to bake big batches of cookies (for others!). We are trying to eat less though. My sweet tooth is fighting me every step of the way!

All 3 chillies have been un-phased with the diet change. We ate better than the average family before. If we don't tell the kids before they eat that what is on their plates isn't real meat they still wolf it down as usual. That's the way to do it right? You feed the kids and THEN tell them they ate mycoproteins, textured wheat protein, and whey. and I don't even do that. Mom's sneaky!

post-pregnancy

I have been determined to lose a ton of weight lately. I have also been super self conscious of my not-so-flat stomach after 3 kids. It's been an adjustment from my former figure which included a fantastically flat stomach. SO when I found this site, The Shape of a Mother, I suddenly realized I should take it in stride. Sure, I've got average-looking stretch marks and a little extra skin around my naval, but A) I look a lot better than most of those pictures and B) it is worth it when I think back to all 3 amazing birthing experiences and the precious kids I have from them. My stomach is shrinking slowly in my quest to take up less space and I've decided not to obsess about it anymore. My body is what it is and I'll keep trying to improve it without panic. that's that.

....................and I'm still open to having another one?!

It's 12:30 PM........and I'm still in my pj's. Somehow it's easier to roll out of bed, get breakfast for the kids and start laundry/ironing/dishes/cleaning while I wake up. Besides I was going to change and work out but that never happened. Before i know it- it's early afternoon and time to put Coop down for a nap. I think I'll work out while he's sleeping.

This week has been so busy that I've been slacking in the exercise department most of the week. I went to one of these seminars Tuesday and Wednesday with Dave's aunt Nadine. It was a great way to get some inside scoop on the current real estate market and how I can get in on the action. I'm struggling lately with going forward with getting my agent license and maybe working part-time vs. enjoying the blessing of not having to work and enjoy my babies at home.